New Delhi: The Supreme Court has closed the criminal contempt proceedings initiated against former SC judge Markandey Katju over his comments in the Soumya murder case. Manorama News reported that the former judge has tendered an apology to the apex court.
The Supreme Court had in November issued notice of contempt to its former judge Markandey Katju for using "intemperate" language and "scandalizing" the judiciary as he appeared before a bench and had a heated exchange with it.
Soumya murder: SC rejects review petition, contempt notice slapped on justice Katju
The issue of contempt was raised after the bench had dismissed the review petitions filed by Kerala government and mother of Soumya challenging the acquittal of the convict of the murder charge.
Justice Katju was summoned as he in his blog had claimed that there was error in the judgment acquitting the accused for the murder and he was asked to assist the bench during the hearing of the review petition.
Justice Katju, through his Facebook post on September 15, had criticized the verdict commuting to life the death sentence awarded to Govindachamy for raping 23-year-old Soumya on February 1, 2011, after pushing her out of a train in Kerala.
Following the apex court order, the state as well as Soumya's mother had filed review petitions.