S P MAHNA Vs. P N LEKHI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition under the Contempt of Courts Act is an echo of the judgment dated 22nd January 1986 delivered by Shri Mahesh Chdra, Additional Sessions Judge, in the "Indira Gandhi murder case" in which Satwant Singh, Balbir Singh and Kehar Singh were held guilty of the offences of conspiracy and murder and were sentenced to death.

(2.) Mr. P. N. Lekhi advocate for Satwant Singh accused, it is alleged, after the pronouncement of the judgment called the Judgment 'a farce upon a farce'. He further is alleged to have stated that 'the Judge is in haste to be elevated to the High Court'.

(3.) The Hindustan Times of the date 23rd January 1986 reported the statement of Mr. Lekhi under two captions : (1) 'Lekhi calls verdict a farce', and (2) 'High tension at Tihar'.