New Delhi: A chilling episode of courtroom intimidation unfolded at a Delhi court when a convict and his lawyer threatened and abused a woman judge after an unfavorable verdict in a cheque bounce case. The incident has sent shockwaves through legal circles and raised serious concerns about the safety and dignity of judicial officers.
The incident took place during the hearing of a case under the Negotiable Instruments Act, presided over by Judicial Magistrate Shivangi Mangla. Upon being convicted, the accused lost his composure and launched a barrage of abuses at the magistrate. Eyewitnesses in the courtroom were left stunned as the convict allegedly attempted to hurl an object toward the bench and issued a death threat.
According to reports by Bar & Bench, the man shouted, “Tu hai kya cheez… tu bahar mil, dekhte hain kaise zinda ghar jaati hai” — a menacing remark implying he would harm the judge outside the courtroom.
Adding to the brazenness of the incident, the judge was also pressured to resign and overturn her verdict — an alarming breach of judicial independence. In response, Magistrate Mangla affirmed her commitment to justice, stating, “Still, the undersigned stands against all the odds and always does the needful in favour of justice.”
In a strong stance against the intimidation, the magistrate has directed that a complaint be filed with the National Commission for Women (NCW) against the convict for harassment and threats.
Further controversy arose as the defence lawyer, Advocate Atul Kumar, who represented the convict, was also found guilty of misconduct during the proceedings. The court has issued a show cause notice to the advocate, demanding a written explanation for his behaviour and warning of potential criminal contempt proceedings.
“Court notice be issued to counsel for accused Sh. Atul Kumar to show cause in writing providing relevant explanation for the conduct shown by him today and further to explain as to why he shall not be referred to the Hon’ble High Court for initiating criminal contempt proceedings,” the court order stated.
The legal fraternity has condemned the incident and called for strict action to protect judicial officers from such threats. Many have expressed concern that such acts of intimidation could undermine the rule of law and set a dangerous precedent.
As the matter unfolds, all eyes are now on the response from higher judicial authorities and law enforcement agencies to ensure accountability and uphold the sanctity of the courtroom.
