Madras HC Closes Contempt Proceedings Against BJP Leader H Raja After His Unconditional Apology

The Madras High Court closed the suo moto contempt proceedings against BJP national secretary H Raja for his alleged derogatory remarks against judiciary, after he tendered his unconditional apology in the Court on Monday.

Raja appeared in person before a division bench of Justices C T Selvam and M Nirmal Kumar as per an earlier direction of the court.

Raja, in his affidavit, stated that he was emotional when he made the remark and tendered his unconditional apology for it.

The contempt proceedings against the BJP leader were initiated suo motu by the division bench on September 17.

H Raja had landed in a controversy as a video featuring him went viral, in which he was seen using foul language against the Court in a verbal spat with a police man. The incident allegedly took place when the police tried to stop him carrying out idol procession during Ganesh Chaturthi festival last weekend. The police stopped the procession through a particular route citing a court order.  This apparently enraged Raja, who launched a diatribe against police and judiciary, which was captured in a video.

On September 17, a bench of Justice C T Selvam and Justice M Nirmal Kumar initiated suo moto contempt action, and issued notice to Raja.

The bench stated that it was taking cognizance of the contempt by Raja on the basis of video clippings and newsreports.

"Any attempt at creating a dent in this most revered pillar of our democratic system could lead to promotion of fascism, naxalism and all that is opposed to democracy", the Court had observed while ordering his personal appearance on October 22.