Agartala: Attorney General of India KK Venugopal has refused to grant consent for initiation of contempt proceedings against the Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb for his remarks against the courts. Allegedly, Biplab Deb had said that chef minister was in charge of the police and officials do not need to fear contempt of court.
Denying the request to initiate the contempt, AG said that the matter had reached before the Tripura High Court which had also accepted that CM's statements were twisted and misquoted and therefore he finds no reason to allow contempt proceedings. "The bench presided over by the Chief Justice accepted the statement of the Chief Minister made on social media, the screenshot of which was shown to the Court. As a result, the court refused to list the contempt case and the matter was closed," said the AG.
The CM had clarified that his speech was "twisted and wrongly reported". "I firmly and unequivocally clarify that I hold all the judicial institutions in the highest esteem and also am duty-bound to uphold the majesty of the judiciary. I have not told the officers or even remotely intended to convey any message to disregard courts and disrespect court orders as reported. My words have been published out of context," Deb had said.
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"I am sure you would appreciate that in view of the fact that the High Court accepted the statement made by the Chief Minister that he was misquoted and that he has the highest respect for the judiciary, it would not be appropriate for me to grant consent for initiating contempt proceedings. I, therefore, decline consent for the reasons stated," said AG in his letter responding to the plea seeking contempt.
