'Insolent Conduct': Bombay High Court Denies Relief To Cop For Muting Mic, Laughing At Judge On VCCurated By : Vani MehrotraNews18.comLast Updated:April 30, 2025, 08:23 ISTThe Bombay High Court dismissed an inspector's petition, citing his disrespectful conduct during video testimony, including laughing at the judge and frequent disruptions.resetFollow us on FlipboardFollow us on Google NewsA file photo of the Bombay High Court (PTI)The Bombay High Court on April 16 dismissed a petition filed by Bramhanand Naikwadi, a Senior Police Inspector at Nerul Police Station in Navi Mumbai, for laughing at the judge after the latter admonished him for frequently muting his mic and speaking to people around him during his testimony in a criminal case.The testimony was being recorded through video conferencing on Naikwadi’s mobile phone.related storiesThe petition was dismissed by a division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Dr Neela Gokhale, who noted that while recording the evidence, Naikwadi kept muting his microphone and was speaking with someone else in the room.“When the Trial Judge admonished him not to speak to anybody while deposing, the Petitioner laughed. Despite repeated warnings by the court to answer properly, he kept telling the APP that everything is written in the panchanama," the bench noted.Further, the judges noted that the Trial Judge also found Naikwadi to be answering his phone and when questioned, he replied that he had to answer the call of the Commissioner of Police.“The behaviour of the petitioner prima facie clearly reeks of insolent conduct on his part. The High Court and the trial court have laid down rules for the conduct of hearings through the medium of video conference. The mere fact of being permitted to appear and depose from the comfort and convenience of his office definitely did not allow him to take the court proceedings casually," the judges observed in the order.In continuation, the court also refused to quash a letter by a Sessions Court in Beed to the Director General of Police (DGP), Maharashtra, to frame a ‘Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for police officials to maintain decorum in the court while recording evidence through a video conferencing facility.The bench stressed that the recording of evidence is a crucial part of any trial, and in Naikwadi’s case, his evidence was highly significant, considering that he was the Investigating Officer in the case.“The annoyance of the District Judge depicted in the impugned letter cannot be considered as exaggerated or misconceived. The manner in which the petitioner conducted himself during the proceedings is sure to cause some obstruction in the administration of justice and affect the proceedings in the trial," the judges opined.“In any case, a request by the Trial Judge to the petitioner’s superior officer to frame SOPs for the investigating agencies in giving evidence through video conference does not imply any personal vendetta of the Trial Judge against the petitioner, as alleged by him," they said.THE CASEAccording to Live Law, Naikwadi was required to appear before the Sessions Court in Beed district on January 20, 2025.Since he could not travel and appear physically, he appeared through VC on his mobile phone. While testifying before the court, a constable knocked on his chamber’s doors, and it was then when he raised his hands to stop the constable from entering and even apologised to the court.However, he received a ‘show cause notice’ from the Sessions Judge on January 31 seeking an explanation as to why action should not be initiated against him for contempt of court. He then explained his stance on the issue by a response submitted on February 4, but then received another show cause notice on February 19 from the Additional Director General of Police (Administration), Maharashtra.top videosView allSwipe Left For Next VideoView allBefore the judges, Naikwadi explained that he was on duty supervising arrangements for the ‘Coldplay Concert’ to be held from January 18 to January 21.However, the bench refused to accept the said contentions and dismissed the petition, with liberty to deal with the show cause notice issued by his senior officer to him on its own merits.Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!tags :Bombay High CourtLocation : New Delhi, India, IndiaFirst Published:April 30, 2025, 08:23 ISTNews india 'Insolent Conduct': Bombay High Court Denies Relief To Cop For Muting Mic, Laughing At Judge On VCRead More
14 Killed, Several Injured As Massive Fire Engulfs Hotel In Central Kolkata do sex
SCI PA admit card 2025 out for Stage II exams; here’s direct link do sex
