New Delhi | The Supreme Court on Tuesday found former CBI interim chief Alok Verma guilty for the contempt of court for transferring AK Sharma, a CBI joint director handling the investigation of the Muzzafarpur Shelter Home case.
The bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi sentenced Rao for imprisonment till the rising of the court and also imposed a fine worth 1 lakh. The court has directed Rao to submit the fine within 1 weeks time. The court also found CBI’s Director of Prosecution (DoP) S Bhasu Ram guilty of its contempt and asked them to remain seated in the courtroom till it rises as punishment.
Announcing the punishment, CJI Ranjan Gogoi said,”‘Contempt has been committed. So there will be a mark on Nageshwar Rao career’. Representing the former interim chief AG KK Venugopal asked the court to adopt a merciful approach as Rao has an unblemished track record of 32 years and he has already tendered his apology to the Court. Responding to this CJI Gogoi said that Rao’s action was ‘brazen contempt’ and he deserved no leniency.
Earlier yesterday Nageshwar Rao had appologised to the top court, saying he had no intention to circumvent its orders. In a filed afidavit Rao said he was praying for an unconditional and unqualified apology by the apex court. He wrote,”I sincerely realise my mistake and while tendering my unqualified and unconditional apology, I specially state I have not wilfully violated the order of this court as I cannot even dream of violating or circumventing order of this court.” He further admitted that in view of the Supreme Court orders dated October 31 and November 28, 2018 “I ought not have agreed with the legal advice for relieving A K Sharma even in his promotion without prior approval of this court”.
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