SC lets Prashant Bhushan off in contempt case with Re. 1 fine, faces 3-month jail if not paid
Guwahati: With the entire nation's eyes glued, the Supreme Court today sentenced Advocate Prashant Bhushan to a token fine of Rs. 1 in the contempt case against him for his tweets criticizing the judiciary. He must deliver the amount by September 15, the apex court added in its ruling.
On August 25, the Bench of Justices Arun Mishra, BR Gavai, and Krishna Murari reserved its orders on Bhushan's sentencing after finding him guilty of contempt of court for his tweets on the judiciary.
"Judges are not supposed to go to the press, their comments outside the Court should not have been relied on," Justice Mishra said, pronouncing the verdict.
The 3-member Bench went on to note that it had given the Advocate several opportunities to express regret for making his contemptuous statements. Bhushan gave publicity to the events surrounding the contempt case by going to the press, it added.
The apex court's Bench ultimately saw it fit to impose a token fine of Rs. 1 on Bhushan for his remarks.
The Bench also made it abundantly clear that if Bhushan defaults on payment of the fine, he may be sent to prison for three months and may be debarred from practicing for three years.
It needs mention here that Bhushan had filed a supplementary statement reiterating his position to stand by his tweets, and had refused to apologize for the same.
Attorney General KK Venugopal, meanwhile, proposed that Bhushan be let off with a warning.
On August 14, the Supreme Court had found Prashant Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt of Court for two tweets criticizing the judiciary.
The two incriminating tweets by Bhushan were posted in June this year. The first tweet pertained to Bhushan's commentary on a picture of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde on a motorcycle, whereas in the second, Bhushan expressed his opinion on the role of the last four CJIs amid the state of affairs in the country.