A Delhi courtroom discussion turned hostile earlier this month when a man convicted in a cheque bounce case, along with his lawyer, allegedly threatened and abused the presiding judge moments after the verdict was pronounced.
The incident took place on April 2 in the court of Judicial Magistrate (NI Act) Shivangi Mangla at the Dwarka District Court. The accused, enraged by the conviction, reportedly tried to throw an object at the judge and hurled abuses at her in open court.
“Tu hai kya cheez… tu bahar mil, dekhte hain kaise zinda ghar jaati hai” (“Who even are you? Meet me outside and let’s see how you make it back home alive”), the convict said, according to the court’s order.
Judge Mangla had convicted the man under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, which deals with the offence of cheque dishonour. She directed the accused to furnish bail bonds under Section 437A of the CrPC on the next hearing date.
However, what followed left everyone stunned.
Open Threats to Woman Judge Inside Courtroom
According to the order, the convict was not alone. His lawyer, identified as Athul Kumar, also joined in threatening and pressuring the judge to overturn the conviction. The judge recorded that both men mentally and physically harassed her, demanding her resignation and threatening to file complaints if she did not acquit the accused.
“They again harassed me mentally and physically to resign from my job,” the judge noted in her order. “They demanded acquittal and warned that they would forcibly arrange my resignation.”
She also added that the accused used “unofficial Hindi language with commentary against the mother” of the judge while reacting to the verdict.
Judge Mangla said she would recommend action before the National Commission for Women (NCW) over the threats and harassment she faced. She also issued a showcause notice to the convict’s lawyer, asking him to explain his conduct and why he should not be referred to the Delhi High Court for criminal contempt proceedings.
On April 5, three days after the incident, the judge sentenced the convict to 22 months of simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 6.65 lakh. During the sentencing, the defence sought leniency, citing the convict’s age—63 years—and the fact that he is a retired government school teacher with three unemployed sons.
In the sentencing order, Judge Mangla referred the matter to the Principal District and Sessions Judge of South West Delhi for escalation to the Delhi High Court, according to a report published with the lawtrend.
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