Manoj Tiwari summoned by SC for 'breaking' lock of sealed house

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a contempt notice against Delhi BJP chief and MP Manoj Tiwari, who had allegedly broken the seal of a premises which was being run in violation of the Delhi Master Plan, and directed him to appear before it on September 25.

It “indicates a defiant attitude by the Member of Parliament, Manoj Tiwari,” the court said referring to a media report of yesterday on the issue.

While also taking serious note of a report filed by the apex court-mandated monitoring committee in this regard, a bench headed by Justice Madan B. Lokur observed that it was “unfortunate” that an elected representative should try to defy the orders of the top court.

The bench, also comprising Justices S. Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta, took cognisance of the panel report and said it reflected a “rather disturbing state of affairs”.

“It is rather unfortunate that an elected member should try to defy the orders of this Court.

“Taking cognisance of the Report submitted by the Monitoring Committee which discloses violation of orders of this Court and interference in the administration of justice which amounts to Contempt of Court, we issue notice to the alleged contemnor, Manoj Tiwari, returnable on September 25,” the bench ordered.

In its report, the monitoring committee has said that “despite repeated directions of this court, the members of political parties and other such persons are intentionally and deliberately violating and showing utter disgrace to the directions passed by the court for political gains”.

Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, assisting the court as an amicus curiae in the Delhi sealing matter, placed the committee’s report before the bench and said an FIR has been lodged against Tiwari for allegedly breaking the seal of the premises which was being used as a dairy.