‘Come outside, we’ll see how you return home alive’: Convict threatens woman judge inside courtroom

Judge Mangla had convicted the accused under Section 138 (dishonour of cheque) of the Negotiable Instruments Act.

She also said in her order that the convict held an object in his hand, which he tried to throw at her after she passed the order that convicted him.

After hearing the judgment that was not in his favour, the man “erupted with anger” at Judge Mangla in the open court, asking how the judgment of conviction could be passed, she noted in the order.

He started harassing her in “unofficial Hindi language with commentary” against her mother, she added.

“Then again, they both (convict and counsel) harassed me mentally and physically to resign from job and they both again harassed to acquit the accused else they will file complaint against me and forcibly arrange my resignation,” Judge Mangla said in her order. She added that appropriate action should be initiated against the convict before the National Commission for Women.

She also ordered that a show cause notice be issued to the man’s counsel, Athul Kumar, to provide in writing an explanation for his conduct and why he should not be referred to the Delhi High Court for initiating criminal contempt proceedings for misbehaviour. Three days later, on April 5, Judge Mangla sentenced the man to simple imprisonment for 22 months and directed him to pay a fine of Rs 6.65 lakh in the cheque bounce case.

Athul Kumar requested a lenient sentence, stating that his client was a 63-year-old retired government school teacher with three unemployed sons.

In her April 5 order, she also referred the matter to the principal district and sessions judge for the South West district in Dwarka, for referral to HC to take up appropriate proceedings regarding her April 2 order.