Delhi HC initiates contempt of court against man who flashed gun at court commissioner

New Delhi [India], November 6 (ANI): The Delhi High Court initiated criminal contempt proceedings against a man for allegedly taking out a pistol during an inspection being carried out by a court commissioner during an inspection at his office.
Justice Subramonium Prasad after considering the report filed by the court commissioner and the statement of a police officer initiated the contempt of court proceedings against Nitin Bansal.
"In view of the report of the Local Commissioner and the statement of the ASI of PS Bhupani, who stated that when he entered the office room, the pistol (Air Gun) was present on the table, this Court is of the opinion that prima facie a case of interference with the administration of justice is made out which amounts to criminal contempt. Mr. Nitin Bansal has prevented an officer of the Court, who had gone for carrying her duties assigned by the Court," Justice Prasad said in the order passed on October 29.
Justice Prasad requested the Registrar General to place the records of the proceedings before the Chief Justice for referring the case to the concerned Division Bench handling cases of Criminal Contempt against Nitin Bansal.
On 17.09.2024, the Local Commissioner filed the Inspection Report stating that the Order dated 31.05.2024, passed by this Court, has been violated and prima facie contempt has been committed by the Respondent.
During the hearing on September 19, 2024, it was that Nitin Bansal became aggressive and took out a weapon and kept it on the office table.
The High Court had directed Nitin Bansal to be present in Court on the next date of hearing and also directed him to file an affidavit explaining how he could take out a firearm when the commission was being executed as per the orders of this Court.
An affidavit was filed and it was stated that the pistol mentioned in the Report of the Local Commissioner is not a real firearm and is an air gun (toy gun) and the same needs no license as per the prescribed rules and regulations.
It was further stated in the affidavit that the air gun has been kept to scare animals such as monkeys and stray dogs on the premises as the factory is situated in a remote area.
The affidavit further states that the air gun was lying on the table prior to the arrival of the Local Commissioner.
The High Court said, "Even assuming that the stand of the Respondent is correct that the pistol in question was already present on the table then also, in the considered opinion of this Court, there was no necessity for the pistol to be kept on the table at the time when the Local Commissioner was visiting the premises because keeping a weapon on the table in itself is sufficient to intimidate any person."
Further, the affidavit filed by Nitin Bansal states that the pistol in question is only a toy gun which is kept on the premises to scare animals and monkeys.
"This Court fails to understand how a toy gun without pellets can scare animals and monkeys. Therefore, the stand taken by Nitin Saxena does not satisfy this Court at this juncture," Justice Prasad said. (ANI)