AG Says No Contempt Action Against Swara Bhasker For Her Alleged ‘Derogatory’ Comments Against Supreme Court

Attorney General K K Venugopal refused to permit filing of a contempt petition against Bollywood actress Swara Bhasker for her alleged ‘derogatory and scandalous’ comments against the Supreme Court on the Ayodhya land dispute verdict. PTI reported that the lawyer Anuj Saxena had sought the consent of the Attorney General for initiating contempt proceedings against the actor. In order to initiate a contempt proceeding against someone, the consent of either the Attorney General or the Solicitor General is necessary, under section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

PTI reports that Attorney General K K Venugopal in his letter to  Anuj Saxena said that Swara Bhasker’s statement which was in two paragraphs appears to be factual and happens to be the speaker’s perception. "I do not think that this is a case where the offence of scandalising the court or lowering the authority of the court would arise. I, therefore, decline consent to initiate contempt proceedings against Swara Bhaskar," Venugopal said

While speaking to TOI, Venugopal said that he declined consent since there is no attack on the Supreme Court and that it was a mere innuendo. “Initiating contempt proceedings would mean giving more credence to her statement, which is not needed,” he said.

As per the report in PTI, it was alleged that Swara Bhasker made the statements at a panel discussion in February 2020, which was organized by the Mumbai Collective. ALSO READ: Swara Bhasker Tells Kangana Ranaut 'Thak Jaa Behen' As She Reacts To The Actress Tweeting Aamir Khan's Fake Interview