Vivek Agnihotri: Film director Vivek Agnihotri on Tuesday tendered an unconditional apology before the Delhi High Court for his comments alleging bias against Justice S Muralidhar for granting bail to activist Gautam Navlakha. The Kashmir Files director apologised after the court decided to proceed ex-parte against Agnihotri and others.
In his affidavit filed before the court, Agnihotri stated that he had deleted his controversial tweet. The court, however, asked him to come in person and tender an apology. “We are asking him (Agnihotri) to remain present because he is the contemnor. Does he have any difficulty if he has to express remorse in person? The remorse cannot always be expressed by way of an affidavit,” the bench remarked.
‘Tweet deleted by micro-blogging site’
Meanwhile, , amicus curiae and senior counsel Arvind Nigam pointed out that Agnihotri’s tweet was deleted by the social media platform, and not by the director.
Justice Muralidhar had served as a judge of the Delhi high court from 2006 till March 2020 after which he served the High Court of Punjab and Haryana till January 2021. He is currently the Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court.
Gautam Navlakha (70) is an accused under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for his alleged role in the Bhima Koregaon violence. The Supreme Court recently rejected the NIA’s request challenging his house arrest.
Navlakha to stay in CPI building
The activist will stay in ground-plus-two Comrade B T Randive Building which belongs to the Communist Party of India (Marxist). It also houses a public library on the ground floor.
Navlakha was accused of delivering inflammatory speeches at Bhima Koregaon. One person reportedly died in the violence that erupted there. As per the Pune police, Maoists supported the Elgar Parishad conclave. Last week, the Supreme Court ordered that the 70-year-old activist should be shifted to house arrest within 48 hours.
