
Lawyer of Disha Salian's father faces contempt action for 'scandalous' remarks on HC judge
The Hindu
High Court orders removal of video, initiates contempt proceedings against lawyer for defamatory remarks in Disha Salian case.
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday (April 8, 2025) initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against lawyer Nilesh Ojha for his "scandalous and defamatory" remarks against a sitting HC judge during a press briefing on Disha Salian death case.
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The lawyer's statements made at a press conference earlier this month are "ex-facie contemptuous," the High Court said, and ordered YouTube and a Marathi news channel to forthwith remove the video of the press conference.
Mr. Ojha represents Satish Salian, who has moved the HC seeking a probe into the death of his daughter Disha Salian in 2020.
A larger Bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justices A.S. Chandurkar, M.S. Sonak, Ravindra Ghuge and A.S. Gadkari said the remarks made by Mr. Ojha in the press conference held on April 1 against the sitting High Court Judge and a former Chief Justice of Bombay HC "lowered the dignity of the court".
"The statements prima facie constitute criminal contempt. We direct registry to issue notice to Ojha," the court said, posting the matter for further hearing on April 29.
The court also directed YouTube and a Marathi news channel to forthwith remove the video of the press conference and also restrained them from uploading it in future.