K.K. Venugopal, attorney general for India, on 23rd August refused to permit filing of a contempt petition against actress Swara Bhaskar for her allegedly derogatory comments against the Supreme Court on the Ayodhya verdict. Consent of either the AG or the solicitor general is needed to initiate contempt proceedings against anyone.
Venugopal declined consent as, according to him, there was no attack on the SC in Swara’s comment. He termed her comment as mere innuendo. Initiating contempt of SC proceedings against the actress would mean giving more credence to her statement, which was not needed, added Venugopal.