Spirited repartee

The court case between Sahara and the Sebi over an optionally fully convertible debenture scheme has created more than its share of entertainment, what with the eloquent full-page advertisements that the Uttar Pradesh-based group periodically puts out protesting its innocence. But there is a fair amount of entertainment in the court as well. Submitting the title deeds worth an estimated Rs 20,000 crore before the court, Sahara counsel C A Sundaram said he had ensured that the order has been complied with in spirit, if not in letter. To which Judge J S Khehar asked poker-faced, "Morning spirit or evening spirit?" "Morning spirit, my lord," a smiling Sundaram clarified, as the court burst into laughter.