GUWAHATI: A Delhi court witnessed an unprecedented disruption when a convict and his lawyer allegedly hurled abuses and issued threats to a woman judge following a conviction in a cheque bounce case. The incident, recorded in the court’s official order, has drawn serious concern from judicial quarters.
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The accused, convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, also reportedly attempted to hurl an object at Judicial Magistrate (NI Act) Shivangi Mangla after the order was passed, according to a BarandBench report published on Monday, April 21.
He then directed his counsel to ensure a favourable outcome by any means. The court order notes the accused’s words as, “Tu hai kya cheez… tu bahar mil, dekhte hain kaise zinda ghar jaati hai,” threatening the judge with harm outside the courtroom.
The judge had convicted the accused and directed him to furnish bail bonds under Section 437A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) on the next date of hearing. However, the courtroom atmosphere turned volatile soon after the pronouncement, with both the accused and his counsel allegedly engaging in harassment and coercion.
According to the court’s order, Judge Mangla was mentally and physically harassed, and she was pressured to resign from her judicial position. The threats and intimidation continued, with demands that the conviction be overturned.
In response, the judge stated that the conduct amounted to serious interference in the administration of justice and confirmed that necessary action would be initiated before the National Commission for Women.
The court also issued a show cause notice to the convict’s lawyer, advocate Atul Kumar, asking him to explain in writing why criminal contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him for misbehaving with the judge. The advocate has been directed to submit his explanation on the next date of hearing.
