SC imposes a cost of 3 Lakh rupees on Sanjiv Bhatt for repeatedly filing petitions in connection with the drug planting case against him

Today, the bench comprising Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Vikram Nath imposed a cost of 3 Lakh rupees on former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt for repeatedly filing petitions in connection with the drug planting case against him. The petitions filed by him were against the presiding judge who was holding trial in the case. The bench said that Bhatt has been filing petitions repeatedly; therefore, a cost of rupees one lakh for each of the three pleas filed by him is imposed. 

While dismissing the plea and imposing the cost, Justice Nath said “How many times have you been to the Supreme Court? At least a dozen times? Last time Justice Gavai imposed 10,000 rupees costs? This time 6 figures? Are you withdrawing? Justice Gavai was kind.” After hearing the arguments presented by the Senior Advocate appearing for Bhatt, Devadatt Kamat, the bench ordered “Dismissed with costs of Rs. 1 lakh each for the three cases. He has been approaching the court with the best of lawyers, certainly, he can do something for Gujarat advocates.” The bench directed the costs to be deposited with the Gujarat High Court Advocates Welfare Fund.