Prashant Bhushan contempt case | Lawyer seeks live-telecast of Aug 25 hearing alleging glorification of Bhushan by media: Report

Alleging that the print and digital media has been glorifying Prashant Bhushan in the coverage of the contempt case against him, a lawyer has approached the Supreme Court seeking that the August 25 hearing in the matter be live streamed, Bar and Bench has reported.

In addition, the report quoted Advocate Amritpal Singh Khalsa as saying he would pay for the cost of the live telecast and video-recording of the hearing.

He cited the court's ruling in the Swapnil Tripathi vs Supreme Court of India case wherein it permitted the live-streaming of appropriate cases. He said this particular contempt case is "one of the most sensational case ever."

Khalsa alleged that there exists a 'lobby', of which he claimed Bhushan is part. He alleged that this 'lobby' aims to destabilise the institution that is the SC and plays a key role in eroding people's faith in the judiciary.

The Supreme Court on August 14 held activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt for two tweets of his that the court deemed 'derogatory'.

On August 20, the court gave Bhushan time to reconsider his statement and offer an apology, reserving the verdict in the matter. In his statement to the court during the hearing, Bhushan said apologising for the tweets which he said were an expression of his bonafide beliefs, would be "insincere and contemptuous."

Also Read | Prashant Bhushan refuses to apologise for ‘offensive’ tweets, tells SC he is ‘grossly misunderstood’