Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai, who is contesting for the post of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President, has filed a police complaint against Kumud Lata AOR for circulating baseless and malicious information against him at Tilak Marg police station on Wednesday.
Kumud Lata AOR is said to have spread rumours around a case in which Pradeep Rai had tendered a public apology and the case was withdrawn. In their investigation, the police have asked Kumud Lata for her version/reply. Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court refused to entertain Lata’s plea seeking cancellation of Rai’s nomination for the election to SCBA President. The elections for the SCBA office-bearers will be held on May 16, Thursday. The results will be out on May 18, Saturday.
Lata made her plea before the Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice KV Viswanathan. Senior Advocate Rai also appeared before the court.
Kumud Lata said Rai’s candidature should be cancelled due to a 2003 FIR against him and that Rai threatened her. Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai told the court, “There is no FIR at all. This lady called me three days back to withdraw in favour of Kapil Sibal. She mentions an FIR where the complainant has tendered a public apology and the case was withdrawn. I have already filed an FIR in Tilak Marg Police Station. IO is on the way. This has to be investigated.”
He further said, “The complainant has tendered unconditional apology in the newspaper. She is doing it at the behest of Sibal”.
During the hearing, Justice Kant said, “Please tell us, madam, what is the scope of our interference in the matter?” Lata replied, “His candidature ought to be cancelled because of his criminal antecedents. He impersonated…” Justice Viswanathan sternly asked you know the law? How is an FIR a criminal antecedent, please don’t bring all this here.
Justice Vishwanathan then asked Kumud Lata, who was making all sorts of wild allegations, if she has filed any suit and had she shown any valid grounds for disqualification.
When Lata said he cannot threaten me in court, Justice Kant said the court won’t anyone to do that. All members of the bar are respected by the court and we have been accommodating everyone
The elections for the SCBA took a divisive turn after Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal announced his candidature for the post of President in the upcoming elections with propaganda and misinformation reaching sky-high.
One such trick saw Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai even being disqualified as a voter in the elections due to a clerical error at the SCBA. The list was set right after Rai objected. And now this attempt by Kumud Lata AOR.
Six candidates are vying for the post of President of the Association: Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai, Senior Advocate Adish Chandra Aggarwala (incumbent president), Senior Advocate Priya Hingorani, Advocate Neeraj Srivastava and Advocate Tripurari Ray.