Man who threw ink on Subrata may face SC heat

The Supreme Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of ink-throwing on Sahara chief Subrata Roy on its premises and asked the accused advocate why he should not be punished for contempt of court.

A five-judge Constitution bench presided over by justice R M Lodha acted on the news reports as Attorney General G E Vahanvati sought action from the court into the matter, describing it as a serious issue.

He submitted that Manoj Sharma, an advocate from Gwalior, who claimed himself to be one of the investors in a Sahara company, threw ink on Roy at the time of his production in the apex court on Tuesday.

Vahanvati said Sharma was the same person who threw a shoe at Suresh Kalmadi, Commonwealth Games scam case accused. The top law officer also pointed out that the accused had earlier secured fake death certificate of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to expose corruption.

Taking a serious view of the episode, the court said, “The incident prima facie discloses obstruction in the administration of justice which amounts to criminal contempt of court.”“Let notice be issued to Sharma on why he should not be punished for contempt of court,” the court said, seeking his response by March 24.

The court also directed the matter relating to contempt notice be posted for further hearing before the special bench comprising Justices K S Radhakrishnan and J S Khehar, which heard the contempt case filed by Sebi against Sahara chairman and others.

During the brief hearing, senior advocate Arvind Datar agreed to the submission made by Vahanvati.

An advocate also pointed out about thrashing up of the accused advocate and sought action against those who had badly beaten him up before handing him over to the police.

The court said, “This issue is not foreclosed. It could be pointed out when the matter would be taken up again before the special bench.”