Mumbai lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee has written to the attorney general calling for contempt of court proceedings against comedian Kunal Kamra.
After the Supreme Court granted Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami provisional bail on Wednesday, comedian Kunal Kamra made a series of tweets in which he lashed out at the Supreme Court. Now a Mumbai lawyer, Rizwan Siddiquee, has requested the consent of Attorney General KK Venugopal to initiate criminal proceedings for contempt of court against the comedian. To update: The Attorney General gives his consent to initiate a contempt process against Kunal Kamra
Kamra had called the Supreme Court “the supreme joke” in the country, after which he published an edited photo of the Supreme Court drenched in saffron with a BJP flag hoisted on it. “The rate at which the Supreme Court operates in matters of ‘National Interests’ it is time we replaced the photo of Mahatma Gandhi with the photo of Harish Salve,” he said in another tweet.
He also compared Judge DY Chandrachud, who was part of the division bank that approved the order in the Goswami case, “a flight attendant who serves champagne to first-class passengers after they have been quickly followed up, while that commoners don’t know if you’ll ever be approached or seated, much less served (sic). “
Lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee, who previously represented actor Kangana Ranaut, has written to the Attorney General, saying that these tweets “manifest an attempt to lower the authority of the Supreme Court of India,” Bar and Bench reported. The letter also states that if such “rebellious and lewd” statements are not checked, those like Kamra, who have millions of followers, will also take the same path to make reckless accusations if they find the judgment unfavorable.
“The greatest strength of the judiciary is the faith of the people in it, a belief that must not be allowed to erode because of the calculated and timely propaganda of a few,” the letter added.
Several people had also pointed out on social media that Kunal’s tweets amounted to contempt of court. At this, Kamra scoffed where he said that he was drawing inspiration from the Supreme Court to say that if people didn’t like his “contempt of court,” they shouldn’t see it. Judge Chandrachud had said while listening to Goswami’s request for bail, that if people don’t like his channel, they shouldn’t watch it.
On Thursday morning, Bar and Bench reported that two Pune lawyers and a law student had also requested KK Venugopal’s permission to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Kamra.
Two Pune-based lawyers and a law student are seeking the consent of Attorney General KK Venugopal to initiate contempt proceedings against comic book artist Kunal Kamra for his tweets criticizing the judiciary. @ kunalkamra88 #contempt of court #Supreme Court pic.twitter.com/BQdzdTkrfh
– Bar and bank (@barandbench) November 12, 2020
Another attorney on Twitter, Chandni Shah, said his complaint against Kamra for contempt of court has been turned over to the Secretary General of the Supreme Court.
An appeal to @SrimantoSen, the Secretary of @barcouncilindia for taking knowledge against @ kunalkamra88 by deliberate insult of the Supreme Court and law officials with nefarious intentions pic.twitter.com/z2mPymbBdR
– Adv. Chandni Shah (@adv_chandnishah) November 11, 2020
Good news !
The AOR, Shri @adv_abby, who yesterday gave an adequate response to Mr. Dushyant Dave’s letter to the CJI, has assured me that my complaint against @ kunalkamra88 for contempt of court he has been turned over to the Secretary General of the Supreme Court of India.
Jai Ho!
– Adv. Chandni Shah (@adv_chandnishah) November 11, 2020
Meanwhile, defender Mahesh Jethmalani responded to Chandni saying that he should not waste time with the complaint. You will turn a humble worm into a luminous worm. He wants the glow: give him the darkness he deserves (sic), ”he said. Kamra also responded to Jethmalani.
Hi Mahesh,
This humble worm did not inherit his father’s name and dubious legacy to find a place at the traffic light https://t.co/dR6Hiyhfl2– Kunal Kamra (@ kunalkamra88) November 11, 2020
Later, citing the news of Siddiquee’s letter, Kamra also said: “Who am I to scandalize those already engaged.”
Who am I to scandalize the already compromised https://t.co/MQ49JjKXTv
– Kunal Kamra (@ kunalkamra88) November 11, 2020
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