Kerala HC Sentences Kochi Political Outfit Leader To 4 Months In Jail For Contempt Of Court

The division bench imposed a fine amount of Rs 2,000 and sentenced Cherian to four months in prison as against the maximum of six months.

Last October, Cherian made allegations against a judge in a speech and uploaded it on the FB page of V4 Kochi.

The Kerala High Court convicted a leader of a political outfit for criminal contempt of court in connection with making corruption allegations against Kerala HC judge Justice N Nagaresh's judgment. A bench of Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice CP Mohammed Nias convicted Nipun Cherian, a leader of the city-based political outfit V-4 People for criminal contempt of court. The Court sentenced Cherian to imprisonment for four months. The division bench also imposed a fine amount of Rs 2,000, according to PTI. 

The bench declined his application for suspension of the sentence so that he can move an appeal to Supreme Court. The bench, as per the report, said, "In view of his conduct during the proceedings, we are of the view that present is a case where a suspension of sentence is not called for."

At the time of dismissing the application, the court said, "Even when we afforded him an opportunity for expressing his remorse and filing an unconditional apology, after the conclusion of the final arguments, he refused to apologise." 

The court took note of the fact that Cherian did not apologize at any stage of the proceedings. They also noted that he reiterated the allegations against the judge at every stage, including the final hearing.

In the judgment holding Cherian guilty of criminal contempt of court, the bench said, "Fair and temperate criticism of the court, even if strong, may not be actionable, but attributing improper motives that tend to bring Judges or courts into hatred and erode public confidence in the judiciary, will lead to contempt action to uphold the majesty and dignity of the courts of law".

Later, the court sentenced Cherian to four months in prison as against the maximum of six months.

Last October, Cherian made allegations against a judge in a speech and uploaded it on the FB page of V4 Kochi.