Initiate contempt of court against three lawyers, SC urged

The Supreme Court on Tuesday was urged to initiate contempt of court proceedings against three lawyers who were caught in a sting operation claiming that they had beaten JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar for three hours in police custody and would inflict more harm on him.

Drawing attention of the apex court bench, comprising Justice J. Chelameswar and Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre, counsel Prashant Bhushan pointed to the sting operation showing three lawyers saying that they had beaten Kanhaiya Kumar for three hours in police custody and next time they will throw petrol bomb on him.

The sting operation, Prashant Bhushan said, shows lawyers saying that they would go to jail and get lodged in a cell where Kanhaiya Kumar is being kept and inflict more harm on him.

Describing the statement by the lawyers as very serious, Prashant Bhushan urged the court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against them as what they are saying is trampling upon the rule of justice.

While saying that what the lawyers were saying in the sting operation could be a case of bragging, Justice Chelameswar asked Prashant Bhushan to file a proper petition and they would consider it.

In the meantime, the court has acceded to the request by the Registrar General Delhi High Court to mask his face in the video recording done by senior counsel Harin Rawal of the incident at Patiala House court complex on February 17.