Couple obstructs court inspection, fined Rs 25 lakh

Mumbai: Taking a stern view of the fact that a couple threatened to implicate a court officer in false case of molestation and prevented him from inspecting and seizing goods pertaining to a suit filed in connection with copyright infringement case, the Bombay high court has imposed a fine of Rs 25 lakh on the couple.

Justice S.J. Kathawalla was hearing a suit filed by Sapat and Company (Bombay) Private Limited, against Feel Good India. The petition was filed claiming that defendant used label for selling cough syrup, which was similar to that of the petitioner company.

Justice Kathawalla was informed that the court receiver was prevented from executing court order. Annoyed with this Justice Kathawalla observed that in the instant case, accused Neha Gandhir and her husband have attempted to defeat the orders passed by this court by removing the goods from the factory premises before the court receiver took charge of the same.

She also attempted to snatch the mobile phone on which their conduct was being video graphed , judge said. Representa-tives of the court receiver as well as the plaintiff were asked to delete what was recorded under the threat of being slapped with a false charge of mo-lestation, judge observed.

The judge observed that socially enabling piece of legislation, is being grossly misused with impunity, by the very gender for whose empowerment it has been enacted leaving the males facing grossly wrong and derogatory charges.

Justice Kathawalla refused to show any leniency saying that if such abhorrent behaviour is left un-punished, by showing co-mpassion to a person who knowingly, grossly abuses the process of law then the court will send out a wrong message to public. “Such conduct may also deter court officials from executing court orders against women, for fear of such false and baseless charges,” said judge.