In Brief
P.R. Adikesavan, an advocate, was convicted of criminal contempt for gheraoing police officers and preventing them from executing a non-bailable warrant issued by the Madras High Court in an insolvency proceeding. The Single Judge issued the warrant on 12 March 2021, and on 31 March 2021, when police attempted to serve it, Adikesavan and fifty other advocates blocked execution. He was convicted under the Contempt of Courts Act 1971, sentenced to two weeks imprisonment, fined Rs 2,000, and debarred from practice for one year. The Supreme Court dismissed his appeal, holding that obstructing the execution of a lawful court order constitutes clear criminal contempt. The Court noted that he had wantonly alleged against judges and sought recusals on improper grounds, compounding the contempt.
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