Contempt proceedings: Supreme Court grants bail to Upendra Nath Dalai and listed matter for hearing on April 2

On March 18, 2024, the Supreme Court (SC) of India granted bail to Mr. Upendra Nath Dalai, who was in custody for not depositing the cost imposed by the Court in a contempt of court case. The bail was granted by a two-judge bench consisting of Justice CT Ravikumar and Justice Rajesh Bindal. In January 2024, the SC issued a non-bailable warrant against Mr. Upendra Nath Dalai as he did not appear before the court and has been taken into custody since then. The matter arises from the dismissal of the PIL filed by the contemnor seeking to declare Satsang founder Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra a ‘parmatma’. While dismissing the PIL, the SC imposed a cost of Rs. 1 lakh on Mr. Upendra Nath Dalai which he failed to deposit. On the last hearing, he handed over a reply to the SC containing additional contemptuous remarks against the court rather than an apology. Yesterday, (March 18), the SC bench added additional criminal contempt charges against Mr. Dalai “for making contemptuous statements in filing his email reply on 5.9.2023 and subsequently reply dated 13.3.2024 whereunder he scandalized and lowered the authority of this court.” 

The SC granted bail to the contemnor and observed “Though we are not satisfied with the manner in which the alleged contemnor is responding to the notices and queries of the Court, we think it is only in the interest of justice to enlarge him on bail subject to the terms and conditions to be imposed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Balasore, Odisha and in that regard, the alleged contemnor shall be produced before the court of C.J.M, Balasore on or before 21.3.2024.” It added, “Taking note of the nature of the proceedings, we are of the considered view that till a final decision is taken in the above proceedings, the Registry shall not entertain any fresh petition/application filed by the alleged contemnor except in the present proceedings.” The SC bench listed the matter for hearing on April 2, 2024.