NEW DELHI: An NRI, who was prima facie held guilty for contempt of court by Supreme Court and was restrained from leaving the country with his passport deposited in court, has managed to leave the country for the US. Taking exception to his conduct, the court directed the Centre to take steps to get him arrested to bring him back and also find out who helped him escape.
The court had charged Manish Chhokar, the NRI, with contempt for not complying with its order to hand over custody of his 10-year-old son to his former wife which was part of the settlement arrived between them to put an end to all disputes after getting divorced.
On the last hearing of contempt proceedings on Jan 22, Chhokar was not present in court which was in violation of the court’s order but senior advocate Vikas Singh, representing him, assured the bench that he would be present on the next date of hearing. But he did not appear on the next date on Jan 29 as well and the court was told that he had left for the US as his son, who is living there with his second wife, was not well. Strongly disapproving of Chhokar getting away from the court’s jurisdiction, a bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Prashant Kumar Mishra issued a non-bailable warrant against him.
“We are amazed as to how the alleged contemnor/respondent can leave for the US or for that matter any country without a passport, as his passport is in the custody of this court. Be that as it may, today we have no option but to issue a non-bailable warrant against alleged contemnor/respondent Manish Chhokar. Non-bailable warrant is hereby issued against the respondent, let the same be executed in accordance with law,” the bench said.
“We also direct the home ministry to take every possible step under the law to arrest the respondent so that he is brought to justice. …we request K M Nataraj, ASG, to assist this court. Nataraj shall apprise this court as to how the respondent was permitted to leave the country without a passport and leave of this court. With the assistance of home ministry, he may also enquire and apprise this court as to who assisted the respondent in escaping from the country and who are the officials and other persons involved in this.”