Hearing a petition seeking contempt of court proceedings against MNS chief Raj Thackeray,the Bombay High Court Thursday asked the petitioner to establish the authenticity of the video clips and media reports that formed the basis of his complaint. The petitioner,lawyer Ejaz Naqvi,had accused Thackeray of describing as partisan an HC order dated February 2,2012,denying the MNS chief permission to hold a rally at Shivaji Park on the ground that it was a silence zone. Naqvi told the court that videos of Thackerays speech were available on YouTube. The court,however,said he should have submitted the footage procured from a news channel to establish its authenticity. What is its (of the YouTube footage) authenticity? Who is vouching for it? the court asked him. A person trying to protect the dignity of the an institution like the High Court should be more responsible, a division bench of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and Gautam Patel said. This is not being done to favour him (Thackeray) because he is an important person, Justice Patel said. Equally,it cannot work the other way. Because he is a person in the public eye does not mean the same legal safeguards cannot be applied in his case, he added. The court granted Naqvi six weeks to procure the authentic reports and footage. mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com
