SC IMPOSES COSTS OF ₹3 LAKH ON FORMER IPS OFFICER FOR FILING REPEATED PLEAS

The Supreme Court on Tuesday imposed a cost of 3 lakh on a former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt for repeatedly filing the petitions in relation to a drug planting case against him.

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A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Rajesh Bindal stated that Bhatt has been repeatedly filing petitions and proceeded to impose costs of 1 lakh for each of the 3 pleas which Bhatt filed.

Justice Vikram Nath while imposing costs and dismissing the plea stated, "How many times have you been to the Supreme Court? At least a dozen times? Last time Justice Gavai imposed 10k costs? This time 6 figures? Are you withdrawing? Justice Gavai was kind."

The costs have to be deposited with the Gujarat High Court Advocates Association; the Court directed.

The bench heard former cop's appeals against ruling of Gujarat High Court from August 24 this year that rejected his application raising concern about the fairness of the trial court judge hearing the drug planting case filed against him.

Single-judge Justice Samir Dave rejected a plea by Bhatt to transfer the trial, and refused to stay the effect of the order or stay the trial proceedings for a month.