ND Tiwari told to respond on refusal to DNA test

Veteran Congress leader ND Tiwari was on Monday asked by Delhi high court to file an affidavit saying his refusal to undergo DNA test to decide the paternity suit of a man claiming to be his biological son was his "voluntary" decision and not influenced by lawyers.

Veteran Congress leader ND Tiwari was on Monday asked by Delhi high court to file an affidavit saying his refusal to undergo DNA test to decide the paternity suit of a man claiming to be his biological son was his "voluntary" decision and not influenced by lawyers.

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"Let your client (Tiwari) file an affidavit that he would not voluntarily give his blood sample for the DNA test and his decision to defy (court orders) is his own and not that of his lawyers," Justice Gita Mittal said.

Justice Mittal also issued a notice to Tiwari on an application of 31-year-old Rohit Shekhar seeking prosecution of the 85-year-old leader for "contempt" due to his failure to deposit a cost of Rs 75,000 imposed on him on December 23 last year.

The court came criticized a plea of Tiwari that he was a freedom fighter and has served the nation for last 70 years and hence be not forced to give his blood sample.

"The fact that you were a freedom fighter does not give You (Tiwari) a license to flout the court orders like this," the court said.

Asking Tiwari to file a "personal affidavit" by July 14 that he was "voluntarily" refusing to undergo DNA test, the court said it would not allow him to take a ground at a later stage that his response was based on "legal advice".