M Nageswara Rao found guilty of contempt of court: SC asks a fine of Rs 1 lakh

M Nageswara Rao found guilty of contempt of court: SC asks a fine of Rs 1 lakh

Guwahati: The Supreme Court on Tuesday pronounced the former CBI Interim Director M Nageswara Rao guilty of contempt of court and has also ordered Rao to pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Rao has been termed guilty for shunting out a CBI officer who was already being asked by the apex court not to be removed from duty until he finishes probing into the case he was assigned with.

Notably, the said CBI officer was associated with the group of investigators who were probing into the Muzaffarpur shelter abuse case. It was being specially ordered by the Supreme Court that the particular CBI officer cannot be removed or transferred from his duty while he is engaged in the case and despite that he was being suspended by the then interim CBI director M Nageswara Rao. Along with Rao, Additional Legal Advisor S Bhasuran was also held guilty as he too committed contempt of court and is imposed Rs 1 lakh fine as well.

Notably, Rao was asked by a bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi to, “Go to one corner of court and sit down till court rises.”

The very words of the bench denote how strict and heavy they are on Rao for his “brazen” attitude. The court also said, “Nageswar Rao was aware of SC’s directions that the CBI officer cannot be transferred without its consent. If this is not contempt of court then what is?”

Before this, on reaching the court, Rao had tendered an “unconditional” apology in the court. Reacting to this, other justices of the bench, Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna said, “Nageswara Rao has put himself at mercy of the court and has had an unblemished career as a police officer. Even if we accept his apology, his career record will remain blemished, as he has acted in contempt by his own admission.”

The same has been said by Attorney General KK Venugopal as well who appearing for the CBI, have tabled an unconditional apology and said that they have not done at this willfully.

To this, CJI Gogoi responded: “Contempt has been committed. So there will be a mark on his ( former interim CBI Director M Nageshwar Rao) career.”

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