The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): In a significant development, the Supreme Court has ordered the continued detention of Upendra Nath Dalai, who faces contempt charges, after he failed to deposit a cost of Rs. 1 lakh and repeatedly missed court appearances. The decision was made by Justices CT Ravikumar and Rajesh Bindal, who directed the jail authorities to provide Dalai with necessary documents to file a response if he wishes. The case is set for charge framing, with Dalai remaining in custody until then.
Dalai initially filed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to have Satsang founder Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra declared a “parmatma,” which the Supreme Court dismissed, imposing a cost of Rs. 1 lakh for the inappropriate request in a secular nation. His failure to pay this cost led to the initiation of the current contempt proceedings.
Despite being arrested and produced before the Court, Dalai has been non-cooperative, demanding access to his mobile phone, which is currently held at a police station, to prepare his response. The Court, initially considering granting supervised access to the phone, ultimately decided against it due to potential misuse risks. Instead, it offered to provide all required documents directly to Dalai.
However, Dalai’s insistence on receiving his mobile phone and his preparedness to remain in jail until such provision led to a stern response from the justices. They decided to proceed with framing contempt charges, emphasizing the need for Dalai to rethink his stance and cooperate with the judicial process.
This case highlights the challenges and proceedings related to contempt of court, showcasing the judiciary’s efforts to uphold legal compliance and respect for the Court’s directives.