HC reserves order in Raj Thackeray contempt case

Mumbai, Nov 30 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today reserved its order in the criminal contempt petition against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray for allegedly threatening lawyers if they defended the 7/11 serial blasts accused.

A division bench comprising Justices B H Marlapalle and J H Bhatia were hearing the petition filed by Indian Association of People's Lawyers (IAPL) and the Committee for the Protection of Democratic Rights (CPDR) against Mr Thackeray under the Contempt of Court Act.

According to petitioners' counsel Maharukh Adenwala, Mr Thackeray had allegedly threatened lawyers against defending the accused in the blast case at a meeting on July 16 to condemn the serial blasts and offer condolences to the victims relatives.

She told the court that at the condolence meeting Mr Thackeray had said his party would organise a protest against such lawyers. Therefore, the petitioners felt that such statement amounted to interference in the judicial process and would intimidate lawyers and deter them from appearing for the accused.

However, Mr Thackeray's counsel Shirish Gupte told the court that his client had already tendered an apology before the court.

Also, the statements made by Thackeray were an emotional outburst and he had no intention of interfering with the judicial proceeding or take any unlawful action against the advocates who defended such accused persons.

Advocate Gupte submitted that his client's contention was to only condemn the acts of terrorism and not commit contempt of proceedings of the honourable court.

UNI ARM OBB MSJ PM1907