Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) The Supreme Court Tuesday expressed its displeasure over the contents of apology affidavit lawyer R.K. Anand filed, pleading against the enhancement of punishment for his attempt to derail justice in the BMW case.

The court was told that Anand would file a fresh affidavit addressing the issues raised by the judges.

The apex court bench of Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice Aftab Alam told senior counsel M.R. Kalla appearing for Anand: “Please ask him (Anand) to read the judgment more carefully before filing the affidavit.”

Anand’s petition challenging his conviction by the Delhi High Court for his alleged attempt to influence controversial witness for the prosecution Sunil Kulkarni in the BMW hit-and-run case was dismissed by the apex court in July 2009.

While dismissing his plea, the apex court issued notice as to why the sentence should not be enhanced.

While Anand’s plea was dismissed, the plea of the special public prosecutor I.U.Khan was upheld by the apex court, giving him benefit of doubt.

Pointing out the contents of the affidavit offering unqualified apology, the court said that the deponent (Anand) was not admitting his guilt but was just saying things “imputed” to him.

The court said that what Anand faced was not just imputations but he has been held guilty.

As Kalla tried to reiterate the content of the affidavit, the court asked him: “Shall we take it, you are not willing to file another affidavit?”

When Kalla referred to earlier instances where the court in similar case had pardoned the petitioner lawyers, the court said in earlier case the contemnors had just spoken against the presiding judges but did not resort to derail the justice delivery system.

At this Kalla said his client has already suffered a lot of humiliation and loss of reputation and pleaded the court to accept the apology.

The court then gave time to Anand to file another affidavit.