Prashant Bhushan Press Conference LIVE Updates: Lawyer Agrees to Pay Re 1 Fine, Says But Will Pursue Legal Remedy Too

Prashant Bhushan on SC Verdict | "The case has inspired several citizens to raise their voice against injustice. My tweets were based on what I regarded as the highest duty of a citizen," says Prashant Bhushan.

The senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily said that Attorney General K K Venugopal and many jurists and lawyers had urged the Supreme Court not to punish him.

Prashant Bhushan: 'Reserve Right to Seek Review, Will Pay Fine' | "I reserve my right to seek a review and will pay the fine Re. 1," says Prashant Bhushan on the judgement of the contempt case.

'Not Warranted': Former Law Minister Moily on SC Judgement | The Supreme Court on Monday punishing activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan was unwarranted, former Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said and felt that the case against him could have been referred to the Bar Council of India. The senior Congress leader said that Attorney General K K Venugopal and many jurists and lawyers had urged the Supreme Court not to punish him.

Prashant Bhushan Called 'Hero of Our Times' | The quote, paraphrasing a statement by Mahatma Gandhi and part of a larger response outlining Bhushant's pain at not being shown the complaint on the basis of which the complaint was lodged, has gone viral on social media. Many have called Bhushan a star and a "hero of our times" for standing up to authority for what he thought was right.

'I Do Not Ask for Mercy': Prashant Bhushan | Advocate Prashant Bhushan's recent statement in the Supreme Court while appearing for a case of contempt has perhaps become one of the most shared statements made in court in recent times. Refusing to apologise for two tweets that the apex court had found in contempt, Bhushan told the bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra, "I do not ask for mercy. I do not appeal for magnanimity. I cheerfully submit to any punishment that court may impose".

In one photo, senior SC advocate Rajeev Dhavan is seen giving him Bhushan a Re 1 coin and the next, a beaming Bhushan can be seen holding the coin up as 'gratefully' accepted the SC verdict.

SC Imposed ₹1 Penalty In Prashant Bhushan Contempt Case; Ban On Practice If Not Paid | CNN News18

A RECAP | Refusing to apologise for his tweets, activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan on August 20 had said that he is shocked and pained that the Supreme Court did not provide him with the complaint on the basis of which the contempt was taken. "I do not ask for mercy. I do not appeal for magnanimity. I cheerfully submit to any punishment that court may impose", Bhushan said quoting Mahatma Gandhi.

Prashant Bhushan's Re 1 Fine Hailed as 'Moral Victory', Memes Flood Twitter |In a bizarre turn to one of the most-watched cases in the Supreme Court in 2020, the Justice Arun Mishra-headed bench has asked advocate and activist Prashant Bhushan to pay a fine of Re 1 in the contempt case. The verdict and the "punishment" came as a surprise to many and social media was instantly filled with reactions. Photos of a smiling Bhushan holding up a one rupee coin along with senior advocate Rajeev Dhawan who defended him in Court. According to journalists, the image was clicked "minutes after the Supreme Court verdict". Read the full story here.

Prashant Bhushan is required to pay the fine by September 15 or he will be jailed for 3 months and debarred from practising for 3 years.

“My lawyer & senior colleague Rajiv Dhavan contributed 1 Re immediately after the contempt judgement today which I gratefully accepted,” Prashant Bhushan tweeted on Monday after he was fined Re 1 by the apex court.  

My lawyer & senior colleague Rajiv Dhavan contributed 1 Re immediately after the contempt judgement today which I gratefully accepted pic.twitter.com/vVXmzPe4ss

— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) August 31, 2020

Prashant Bhushan Contempt Case Chronology:

◕ Aug 25: SC once again asks Bhushan to apologies. He refuses.

SC reserves judgment on Bhushan's sentencing.

◕ Aug 31: SC imposes fine of Re 1 on Bhushan, to be paid by September 15; default to lead to 3-month-jail term, debarment from practice in the apex court for 3 years. (3/3)

Prashant Bhushan Contempt Case Chronology:

◕ Aug 14: SC holds Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt for his both tweets 'against the judiciary'.

◕ Aug 24: Bhushan files a response refusing to apologise to the SC while hearing argument of point of quantum of sentence.

◕ Aug 25: Attorney General KK Venugopal urges SC to let Bhushan off the hook. (2/3)

Prashant Bhushan Contempt Case Chronology:

◕ Jun 27: Bhushan tweets about undeclared emergency in the country and the role of the Supreme Court and last four chief justices of India.

◕ Jun 29: Bhushan tweets about Chief Justice S A Bobde trying a Harley Davidson super-bike in his hometown Nagpur during the coronavirus outbreak.

◕ Jul 22: SC initiates contempt proceedings against Bhushan after taking note of a complaint filed by a lawyer in this regard; issues notice to him. (1/3)

Prashant Bhushan to Hold Press Conference at 4pm | Prashant Bhushan will hold a press conference at 4pm today where he will speak about his future course of action. The Supreme Court Monday imposed a token fine of Re 1 against activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan in the contempt case for his tweets against the judiciary.

Bhushan Faces 3 Month Jail if Re 1 Fine Not Paid | A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra said Bhushan must deposit Re 1 by September 15. If the lawyer fails to do so, he will be jailed for 3 months besides a debarment from practice for a period of 3 years. The bench, also comprising Justices BR Gavai and Krishna Murari, said an order on sentencing was a must in the given circumstances.

Bhushan Held Guilty of Criminal Contempt on August 14 |On August 14, the bench had held Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt. It had then maintained that judges' magnanimity cannot be stretched to become a weakness against “malicious and calculated attack on judiciary.""The scurrilous/malicious attacks by the alleged contemnor No.1 (Bhushan) are not only against one or two judges but the entire Supreme Court in its functioning of the last six years. Such an attack which tends to create disaffection and disrespect for the authority of this Court cannot be ignored. The alleged contemnor has attempted to scandalise the entire institution of the Supreme Court,” the conviction order had stated.

The court agreed with Attorney General KK Venugopal's submissions that there does not need to be a stringent punishment or a jail term for Bhushan in view of his contribution as a lawyer. The bench, in its order, took note that Bhushan chose not to apologise or express regret despite repeated opportunities. It pulled him up for rather making statements in the press about the contempt proceedings and leaking his statements even before they were considered by the court.

Prashant Bhushan Fined Re 1 by Supreme Court in Contempt Case | The Supreme Court on Monday imposed a token penalty of Re 1 on activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan as his punishment in the criminal contempt case. A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra said Bhushan must deposit Re 1 by September 15.If the lawyer fails to do so, he will be jailed for 3 months besides a debarment from practice for a period of 3 years. The bench, also comprising Justices BR Gavai and Krishna Murari, said an order on sentencing was a must in the given circumstances.