The Supreme Court has ordered interim stay on Delhi High Court order sentencing three months of simple imprisonment for contempt of court to the son of founder and chairperson of the Max Group conglomerate, Analjit Singh.
A bench compising Justice BR Gavai, Justice CT Ravikumar and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar admitted Veer Singh’s appeal and directed a stay on the imprisonment sentence as well as a look-out circular issued against him.
Singh was represented by Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, whereas senior Advocate Pinky Anand appeared for Kinri Dhar before the top court today.
The bench was hearing an appeal of a Delhi High Court passed earlier this month.
The High Court had sentenced Veer Singh to three months of simple imprisonment for contempt of court.
A division bench comprising Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna had ordered the local Station House Officer (SHO) to issue arrest warrants against Singh and to get a Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against him.
Once the LOC was issued ,Veer Singh approach the Supreme Court in appeal. In his application,Singh also urged the top court to exempt him from surrendering before the authorities.
The order by the High Court on a plea filed by Singh’s wife, Kinri Dhir (Singh denies marrying her) to initiate contempt of court proceedings against him for flouting the orders of the Court.
On June 1, 2023, Singh had told the High Court that he will pay maintenance to Dhir within 24 hours.
However it was not complied and counsel also admitted that the order has not been complied with. However, the counsel added that the contempt petition is not maintainable.
When the High Court had ordered him to be physically present on the next date of hearing, Singh’s counsel stated that his client is not in India and therefore, could not appear in Court.
The High Court had observed that it was evident that Singh was not willing to purge the contempt by complying with the orders.
The bench then sentenced him to three months of simple imprisonment for contempt of Court, leading to the present appeal.