Criminal Contempt Proceedings Against Yati Narsighanand Cleared

New Delhi: Criminal contempt-of-court proceedings will be initiated against Yati Narsinghanand for his remarks about Supreme Court and the Constitution.

Attorney General (AG) KK Venugopal gave consent on Friday to a Mumbai-based activist to initiate contempt proceedings against the controversial priest and religious leader whose comments were a direct attempt to lower the authority of Supreme Court in the minds of general public.

“I find that the statement made by Yati Narsinghanand that ‘those who believe in this system, in these politicians, in the Supreme Court and in the Army will all die the death of a dog’ is a direct attempt to lower the authority of the Supreme Court in the minds of the general public,” said the AG.

He added that Narsinghanand’s remarks made in an interview on January 14 have been explained to him.

Activist Shachi Nelli had written to the AG that Narsinghanand’s remarks were “trying to undermine the majesty of the institution and the authority vested in the Supreme Court Court of India”.

The Attorney General or Solicitor General’s consent is necessary for Supreme Court to take cognizance of a contempt-of-court plea filed by an individual.

Nelli pointed out that Narsinghanand, replying to a question about court proceedings against him in the Haridwar hate speech case, had said: “We have no trust in the Supreme Court of India and the Constitution. The Constitution will consume the 100 crore Hindus of this country. Those who believe in this Constitution will be killed. Those who believe in this system, in these politicians, in the Supreme Court and in the Army will all die the death of a dog.”

Narsinghanand, who was arrested last week for his hate speech, was on Thursday denied bail by a Haridwar court.