In Brief
The Supreme Court found Shaji Augustine guilty of civil contempt for deliberately failing to pay ₹28.60 lakh monthly instalments of arrears of use and occupation charges from 20.09.2021 to 31.11.2022, as directed by Court order dated 07.11.2022. Augustine held possession of a property complex and operated it as a resort without making any payment. Claiming financial inability, he refused to comply despite being given multiple opportunities. The Court rejected his financial incapacity plea, finding his conduct reflected deliberate and intentional non-compliance combined with misuse of judicial proceedings to retain property benefits. The Court sentenced him to three months' simple imprisonment and a fine of ₹20,000, granting 30 days to purge contempt through compliance with the original order.
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