A US-based NRI doctor and lawyer has been asked by the Delhi High Court to deposit Rs 10,000 with the Prime Minister's Relief Fund as fine for using "strong and contemptuous words" against a judge besides unauthorisedly filming court proceedings.
Adarsh Kant Kapoor, who also remained in jail from January 31 to February 8 for his behaviour, tendered unconditional apology to a bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna for his alleged contemptuous statements and filming court proceedings.
"We have heard the respondent (Kapoor) at length... And believe that the court should accept the said apology tendered in the affidavit filed and bring the present proceedings to an end," the bench, also comprising G P Mittal, said.
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"We have quoted the affidavit of the respondent dated 18th March, 2014, in which he has accepted that the respondent would not resort to any overt or covert audio-video recordings of the proceedings in any court without the permission of the court concerned," it said and asked Kapoor to deposit the money with PM Relief Fund within a month.
It considered Kapoor's unconditional apology for using "strong and contemptuous words" during court proceedings held on March 15, 22 and October 21, last year. He had also filmed the proceedings.
The bench said, "We direct the Registry to release the passports and also withdraw the communication addressed to police authorities in India and abroad as a result of the present contempt proceedings. The respondent will not be obstructed or prevented from leaving India or coming back to India in view of the present contempt proceedings..."
The criminal contempt proceedings were initiated against the NRI following the orders of a single-judge bench.
"Courts adjudicate dispute and decide on contentious issues and submissions raised by the parties. Court decisions may result in one party being dissatisfied or suffering adverse consequences. This, however, does not mean that the party should stall court proceedings, issue/give threats or ask the judge to recuse from hearing the matter," it said.
