R K Anand challenges HC order restraining practise in court

New Delhi, Sep 3 (UNI) Senior Advocate R K Anand has challenged in Supreme Court the Delhi High Court order banning him and another lawyer I U Khan from appearing in any court in Delhi, including Delhi High Court, for four months for their involvement in trying to influence the witnesses in the BMW hit-and-run case.

Anand, in his petition, has contended that only Bar Council can debar an advocate from practising and court is not competent to take any disciplinary action against an advocate and it can only refer the case to the state Bar council concerned, Delhi Bar council in this case, for disciplinary action.

A two-judge bench of the Delhi High Court headed by Justice Manmohan Sareen found the two advocates guilty of trying to influence a key prosecution witness in the case, Sunil Kulkarni, to save the main accused in BMW case Sanjeev Nanda, who along with three others, was convicted by the trial court yesterday.

The Delhi High Court also referred to its full bench the issue of the withdrawal of designation of Senior advocate from R K Anand.

A sting was conducted by a satellite channel which showed that Anand and Khan who was Special Public Prosecutor in the case offering money to Kulkarni to turn hostile in the case.

Khan was removed as Special Public Prosecutor in the case following expose in the sting.

The Delhi High Court found both guilty of obstructing the course of justice by influencing the witness and also imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 each on the two advocates.

Anand has prayed to the apex court to stay the operation of the impugned order till the final disposal of his appeal.

The Supreme Court had earlier refused to transfer the case from the bench of Justice Sareen and the presiding judge of the Supreme Court Justice Arijit Pasayat had told Anand that this court would not allow bench hunt.

UNI SC NC SSC1328