High drama in city courtroom

A city court has initiated contempt proceeding against the self proclaimed “legal aid” of a Pakistani national, who tried to engineer a 'deal' in court by bribing the CBI prosecutor, for a lenient view on his “client's” sentence.

A city court has initiated contempt proceeding against the self proclaimed “legal aid” of a Pakistani national, who tried to engineer a 'deal' in court by bribing the CBI prosecutor, for a lenient view on his “client's” sentence.

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Startled Additional Sessions Judge Girish Kathpalia said in reaction, “This is a courtroom and not any deal-cracking venue.”

Vimal Singh, who claims to be 'pairokar' (legal aid) of Abdullah — one of two Pakistanis arrested for entering India without legal documentation — was brought before the judge after he attempted to bribe a CBI prosecutor.
When asked why he was in court, Singh said he had no idea.

Drama started unfolding in the courtroom when, Singh while recording his statement on oath, said he did not know his residential address. He also expressed ignorance whether he was living at his own house or at a rented accommodation.

Kathpalia asked Singh to show his driving license, but Singh said he was carrying an expired license. The judge noticed a driving license sliding from his pocket diary. In a flash Singh took out a PAN card from his back pocket, and placed it on the table. The judge ordered the court staff to seize the two documents.

According to special public prosecutor for CBI, Rajan Dahia, Singh, who claimed to be attending Abdullah's hearing
regularly, approached him after the final hearing on the application moved by Abdullah, and asked: "What would be your consideration for accepting lesser sentence?"

The judge directed the CBI to trace the present residential address of Singh, and to ensure his presence during the
contempt proceeding against him.

An hour into the episode, Singh appeared unmoved, and did not say anything in his defence. On the directions of the Sessions court, a trial court has started contempt proceedings against Singh.