‘Black magic’ suspicion disrupts Delhi court hearing — after accused found ‘throwing rice’

Proceedings were underway, before the court staff noticed something fishy and told the judge — the accused, Dr Chander Vibhas, had thrown some rice on the floor under the dais.

“On enquiry, the accused stated that he was having some rice in his hands, which fell down. However, he fails to explain why he was carrying rice in his hands while entering the Court and during Court proceedings,” said ASJ Tandon in her order dated August 11.

The court staff told the judge that this wasn’t an isolated incident and that on August 2, too, some grains of rice were found on the floor of the court.

The order noted: “… The accused, on his own, submits that on 02.08.2025, he was present through V-C. However, the Reader of the undersigned has stated that as per the ordersheet of that day, he was present physically in court. The order sheet has been perused.”

The counsel in the room, suspecting “black magic”, requested the court to get the rice cleaned up. For close to 15 minutes, court proceedings were halted. It resumed after the floor was cleaned.

“Till the time the sweeper comes, court proceedings have been halted at the request of Ld. counsel present in the court since they suspect black magic by the accused. The sweeper has come after 10 minutes and cleaned the floor,” said ASJ Tandon.

The order further said, “This is very shocking and surprising to the court that the present accused, Dr Chander Vibhas, who is stated to be a surgeon by profession and belonging to the educated and elite class, has acted in such an unreasonable manner and created an interruption in court proceedings.”

The court took cognizance of the offence under Section 267 of the BNS (intentional insult or interruption to a public servant sitting in judicial proceeding) against the accused.

“Disrespect towards the court or disruption of judicial proceedings sends a damaging public message and such overt act/behaviour of the accused today not only disrupted court proceedings and undermined the judicial process, but also threatens the very foundation of our legal system,” the judge added.

Following this, the accused knelt before the court to apologise. Judge Tandon said she would wait for his counsel before passing the final order.

In the afternoon, advocate Sonam Gupta, who represented the accused, appeared before the court. She said the accused was feeling remorse and such an act wouldn’t be repeated in the future. The doctor had been “misguided” by someone, she submitted.

“After considering all the facts and circumstances, including the apology tendered by the accused and his feeling of remorse, he is sentenced to undergo imprisonment till rising of the Court and fine of Rs 2,000 to be deposited with the State,” the Judge said in her order.