Two lawyers moved the Supreme Court on Tuesday, seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against the former Communications Minister, A. Raja, and Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Bar Council, R.K. Chandramohan, for allegedly trying to influence Justice S. Regupathi, retired Judge of the Madras High Court, in a criminal case.
Petitioners Sanjay Gautam and Sateesh Galla, through counsel N. Rajaraman, submitted that contempt proceedings should be initiated against the two respondents, as their action amounted to flagrant interference with the administration of justice.
The petitioners, quoting the correspondence between Justice Regupathi and Justice H.L. Gokhale, who was the Chief Justice of the High Court at that time, said Mr. Chandramohan had allegedly asked Justice Regupathi to favourably consider an anticipatory bail application, saying Mr. Raja was interested in that case.
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The petitioners noted that according to Justice Regupathi, Mr. Chandramohan purportedly handed over his mobile phone to the judge saying the Minister wanted to speak to him, which Justice Regupathi claimed he declined. Thereafter, Justice Regupathi brought this to the notice of Justice Gokhale, who forwarded the letter to the then Chief Justice of India, K.G. Balakrishnan, along with his letter.
They said the High Court acting on a petition had suspended Mr. Chandramohan from the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu.
However, the Supreme Court had stayed the High Court order and the matter was still pending.
