AG gives consent for contempt action against Narsinghanand

New Delhi, January 21

Attorney General KK Venugopal on Friday gave his consent to initiate contempt action against Juna Akhara Mahamandaleshwar Swami Yati Narsinghanand for his alleged utterances against the Constitution and the Supreme Court.

In an interview given to one Vishal Singh being circulated on Twitter, Narshinghanand had allegedly said, “We have no trust in the Supreme Court and the Constitution. The Constitution will consume the 100 crore Hindus of this country. Those who believe in this Constitution will be killed. Those who believe in this system, in these politicians, in the Supreme Court, and in the Army will all die the death of a dog.”

In a letter addressed to activist Shachi Nelli, who had sought his consent to initiate contempt proceedings against Narsinghanand, Venugopal said the statement in question was a “direct attempt to lower the authority of the Supreme Court in the minds of the general public. This will certainly amount to contempt of the Supreme Court”.

Arrested by the Haridwar Police on January 15 in a hate speech case, the Juna Akhara Mahamandleshwar was denied bail by a Haridwar court on Thursday.

Nelli had written to Venugopal that the comments were a vile and clear attempt at interfering in the course of justice by means of abusive rhetoric and baseless attacks on the integrity of the Constitution and courts and undermined the majesty and the authority of the Supreme Court.

SC upholds Gujarat’s purchase tax demand

The SC on Friday upheld the Gujarat Government’s Rs480.99 crore purchase tax demand and penalty on ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Limited, previously known as Essar Steel Ltd, for wrongly availing of tax exemption.

Self-immolation bid outside apex court

A man on Friday attempted self-immolation outside the SC. The man identified as as Rajbhar Gupta of Noida worked as a security guard at a factory and was not getting salary for past three months, the police said.