New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday held then acting CBI director M. Nageswara Rao and the director of prosecution of the agency S.B. Ram guilty of its contempt and asked them to remain seated in the courtroom till it rises as punishment.
The apex court imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh each on them for wilfully disobeying its order by transferring CBI joint director A.K. Sharma who was probing the Bihar shelter home sexual assault cases. However, it clarified that Sharma would not return to join the probe into the Muzaffarpur shelter home case.
Former chief investigating officer AK Sharma, however, won’t come back to join #MuzaffarpurShelterHomeCase probe, clarifies the #SupremeCourt.
— Utkarsh Anand (@utkarsh_aanand) February 12, 2019
The top court had issued contempt notice against Rao for transferring Sharma.
The Supreme Court also questioned why Rao was being represented by attorney general K.K. Venugopal. “Why should a contemnor be defended at government expenses?” the court asked.
Rao on Monday admitted that as the interim chief of the CBI, he committed a “mistake” in transferring Sharma and apologised to the Supreme Court, saying he had no intention to circumvent its orders.
Rao, who filed an affidavit in response to a contempt notice issued to him on February 7, said he was praying for an unconditional and unqualified apology by the apex court.
“I sincerely realise my mistake and while tendering my unqualified and unconditional apology, I specially state I have not wilfully violated the order of this court as I cannot even dream of violating or circumventing order of this court,” Rao said in the affidavit.
The Supreme Court of India. Credit: PTI
He admitted that in view of the Supreme Court orders dated October 31 and November 28, 2018 “I ought not to have agreed with the legal advice for relieving A.K. Sharma even in his promotion without prior approval of this court”.
The Supreme Court on February 7 came down heavily on the CBI for transferring Sharma, who was probing Bihar’s shelter home cases, out of the agency in violation of the court’s order and had directed Rao to personally appear before it on February 12.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi took serious note of the violation of the two earlier orders and issued contempt notice to Rao for transferring Sharma to the CRPF on January 17 without taking prior permission from the court.
“I unhesitatingly accept my mistake and tender my unconditional and unequivocal apology to this court. I most respectfully pray that this court may be graciously pleased to accept the same,” Rao said.
He also submitted that the officer was transferred “not with any deliberate or disobedient intent and it is humbly submitted that it was never my intention to undermine the majesty of this court or flout or circumvent any direction of this court.”
The IPS officer, who is additional director in the CBI, said he has highest respect for the apex court and prayed “most humbly and respectfully” that his apology be accepted.
In his affidavit, Rao narrated his achievements in 32 years as an IPS officer.