SC closes case against man for threatening lawyer of Muslim parties in Ayodhya case

New Delhi, September 19

The Supreme Court on Thursday closed a contempt case against an 88-year-old retired public servant for writing objectionable letters to senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan for appearing for Muslim parties in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute matter.

A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said the man had expressed regret for using such objectionable words in his communication to Dhavan.

The bench also comprising Justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer said there should not be a repetition of such acts.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Dhavan, said he did not want any punishment for the retired public servant but a message should be sent to all in the country that there should not be any intimidation of any counsel appearing for any party.

The counsel appearing for N Shanmugam said he was expressing regret for using such words in the letter to Dhavan.

The court had on September 3 issued notice to Shanmugam on Dhavan’s contempt plea for allegedly threatening him in a letter, saying physical disabilities would befall him for taking up the case on behalf of the Muslim parties against the deity ‘Ram Lalla’. PTI