Overview
- The Delhi High Court, which convicted Gulshan Pahuja on Tuesday, found his YouTube videos and banners told viewers to give up hope of justice when cases came before specific judges.
- Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja held him guilty under Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act and rejected his free-speech defense as a bad-faith attempt to scandalise the judiciary.
- The court noted he named district judges Charu Asiwal, Ajay Narwal and Ajay Singh Parihar and admitted he did not verify the serious claims presented in his videos.
- The bench ordered Pahuja to file sentencing submissions and appear in person on May 12, with the offence carrying up to six months in jail or a fine of up to Rs 2,000.
- Two advocates who appeared in the clips were discharged after unconditional apologies, as the court said genuine reform efforts such as calls to record hearings do not amount to contempt.