JUDGMENT :

A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar, J.

The facts in brief:

This suo motu contempt case was taken against the respondent contemnor pursuant to information laid before us by the Registrar of this Court that the respondent had made a public speech casting aspersions on the honesty and integrity of a learned Judge of this Court whom he publicly accused of being corrupt. The specific charge levelled against the respondent, and to which he pleaded not guilty, reads as under:

CHARGE

We, Justice A.K.Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Mohammed Nias C.P., do hereby charge you,

“That you Sri.Nipun Cherian, the sole respondent in Cont. Case (Crl.).No.4 of 2022, have made a speech that was uploaded and published in the facebook page of 'V4 Kochi' on 25/10/2022 under the link – https://fb.watch/gp6uFahaSz, making serious allegations of corruption against Honourable Mr. Justice N.Nagaresh, Judge, High Court of Kerala with regard to a judgment passed by His Lordship. The said speech is contumacious and made with an intention to tarnish the integrity of the Honourable Judge. Your speech amounts to scandalizing the authority of the Court and interference in the due course of judicial proceedings. Such beh