HC pulls up accused in N-E laywer assault case

NEW DELHI: Not content with mere apologies for the assault of a female lawyer of north-eastern origin by her fellow bar members, Delhi High Court on Thursday directed them to preach equality to all by “tell(ing) others not to behave badly with people coming from Northeast.”

While warning the two lawyers - who face contempt proceedings – that their license to practice law could be taken away for their alleged manhandling and misbehaving with a young lawyer, the court also directed them to apologise to her.

The court asked the Presidents and Secretaries of Delhi High Court Bar Association and six district bar associations to be personally present in the court on February 25.

“Lead a campaign…and spread message to the society and among the legal community that… a person belonging from Northeast is (sic.) not alien. “said Justices G S Sistani and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal while hearing of contemnor lawyers Azad Chandra Prakash Gautam and Varun Jain.

“This kind of issue (racial attacks) need to be brought to an end, otherwise things in future will turn worse,” warned the bench. HTC

The second-round of questioning took place at around 10:30pm when the former Union minister was asked to produce certain documents related to the investigation.

Apart from Tharoor, five of his staff members, including domestic help Narayan Singh and driver Bajrangi, were also questioned in the afternoon at the anti-auto theft squad (AATS) office in Vasant Kunj, sources said, adding that all six were confronted and crossexamined with each others’ statements.

“Tharoor and five others were called for a second round of questioning and their statements were once again recorded. EOW is our unit and we want to explore every aspect in the case,” Delhi Police commissioner BS Bassi said.

The IPL controversy broke out when Tharoor was minister of state for external affairs in UPA-I, and led to his resignation.

Pushkar’s viscera sample was meanwhile flown to the United States where it will be examined, for the final time, by the forensic experts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

DCP (south) Prem Nath personally handed over the viscera sample to concerned FBI officials. This is the first time that the Delhi police have sent a viscera sample abroad

for forensic examination.

A senior officer privy to the probe said the SIT has sought a final opinion on the nature and quantum of poison that led to Pushkar’s death on January 17 last year in Hotel Leela Palace. FBI’s opinion on the viscera sample is expected in two months, the officer added.

Gay marriage is not legal in India. Such couples are often persecuted and can even be prosecuted under the controversial section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

Unfazed by the JNU challenge, the saffron outfit’s national president, Chandra Prakash Kaushik, said they would indeed “get everyone married” — irrespective of religion, caste or gender considerations.

“This is a way to test your love. Love is not about display. We are not against love but this cheap display. Why do people love only for a day, why not all 365 days,” he asked.

He also pushed the group’s Hindutva agenda by saying

inter-faith couples would be given the chance to “return to the religion of their ancestors who were all Hindus”.

“At one time, there were no Muslims in India. We will give Muslims a chance to correct this mistake and marry them off by completing Hindu rituals,” he said.

“If they refuse to do so, it will be love jihad and it will be proved that they trapped the other partner under a conspiracy.”

“Kejriwal is suffering from high fever and cough. He has taken antibiotics to control the fever. He has been advised bed rest as he hasn’t rested for the last one week. I strictly advised him against going out. He avoids allopathy and follows ayurveda and naturopathy,” Dr Mittal said, adding that another check-up will follow on Friday morning and if needed, tests will be carried out.

Party colleagues Manish Sisodia — tipped to be the deputy chief minister — and Dilip Pandey would attend meetings in Kejriwal’s absence.