Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Feb 19: On Wednesday February 18, the state High Court sentenced a resident of Mangalore with six months imprisonment and Rs 2,000 fine for passing derogatory statements against the High Court judges in relation to a judgment passed by the court earlier. A divisional bench of the High Court headed by Justice S R Bannurmath and Justice A N Venugopal Gowda passed this verdict.

Rangappa Bovi, 53, had been dismissed from the services of Kudremukh Iron Ore Company in October 1997. The dismissal order had been upheld by the labour court. An appeal he had moved against this order had been dismissed by the High Court.

Commenting on this setback, Bovi had alleged that the judges had been induced by the lures set out by the company officers and that they were corrupt. Taking cognizance of these statements, the High Court on its own, had filed the contempt of court case against him.

Immediately after the judgment was pronounced, Rangappa requested the court to keep the operation of the verdict in abeyance, as he proposed to question the same through an appeal. The judges however, declined to entertain his request and asked the registrar to immediately arrest him.