IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Contempt Case (Criminal) No. 3 of 2025 The Court on its Own Motion Versus Mahesh Tewari, son of late Sudhanshu Sekhar Tewari, R/o D/4, 3G, SAIL CITY P.O- SAIL CITY, P.S- New Pundag, District- Ranchi, Jharkhand, having his chamber at 2C/60, Block-II, Jharkhand High Court, Ranchi arrayed as O.P. in the present Contempt Case (Criminal) No. 03 of 2025. … … ... Opposite Party -----

CORAM: HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUJIT NARAYAN PRASAD HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RONGON MUKHOPADHYAY SRI ANANDA SEN, J.

HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH SHANKAR ---------

For the Opposite Party: Party-in-Person ---------

Reserved on: 10.02.2026 Pronounced on: 16 .02.2026 Per M.S. Sonak, C.J.

1. Heard Mr. Mahesh Tewari, the contemnor, who appears in person.

2. On 16.10.2025, in Court Room No. 24, presided over by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajesh Kumar, the contemnor made some statements. A video clip that captured this interaction between the contemnor and the Presiding Judge went viral on the Internet and other social media platforms.

3. The then Hon’ble Chief Justice, Mr. Tarlok Singh Chauhan, and four other Hon’ble Judges of this Court took cognisance of the incident as captured in the video clip and ordered the registration of this Contempt Case (Criminal) No. 3 of 2025, titled “The Court on its own Motion Vs.

Mahesh Tewari”.

4. On 17^th October 2025, the Full Bench made the following order:-

“1. A video relating to the Court proceedings of this Court has gone viral on the Internet and other social media. Therefore, we have called for the original of the video through the Central Project Coordinator (CPC) who has submitted the same in a pen-drive.

2. We also have the transcript of that video. The video was played in the open Court.

3. Having perused the video, we find that the same relates to the Court’s proceedings dated 16.10.2025 of Court No.24 held by Justice Rajesh Kumar where the Opposite Party had his case at Serial No.2 of the cause-list and we further find that some orders were passed in that case. However, when the case at Serial No.4 was called and where none of the parties were being represented by the Opposite Party, yet, the Opposite Party stood up in front of the Dais and interrupted the Court’s proceedings. He not only used intemperate language, but also tried to brow beat threaten and bully the learned Judge Justice Rajesh Kumar. Further, the Opposite Party has tried to scandalize the Court by stating that, “the country is burning with the judiciary” and persisted that “he would argue in his own way” and rather asked the learned Judge “not to cross his limits,” while going out of all limits insofar as he alone was concerned thereby undermining the majesty and Authority of law.

4. The Opposite Party is present in person and states that he has no remorse or regret whatsoever for whatever he has done or said in the Court.

5. Prima facie we are of the considered view that the utterances of the Opposite Party amounts to criminal contempt and while invoking our power under Article 215 of the Constitution of India and the Contempt of Courts Act, we direct the Registry to register a suo motu criminal contempt case against the Opposite Party.

6. Issue notice.

7. The Opposite Party waives notice and prays for three weeks’ time to file his reply-cum-Statement of Defence.

8. List on 11th of November 2025.”

5. On 25.11.2025, the contemnor, who is a practising advocate of this Court, appeared and filed an I.A. seeking extension of time to file reply- cum-statement of defence. The Full Bench granted four weeks’ time to the contemnor to file reply-cum-statement of defence. The Registry was also directed to supply the contemnor with a copy of the video transcript and the Pen Drive.

6. On 23.12.2025, the contemnor once again filed an I.A. seeking further extension of time. The Full Bench, once again, extended the time to file a response by six weeks and listed the matter on 10^th February 2026. Within this period, the contemnor fi