Navlakha bail case: Vivek Agnihotri apologizes for his remarks

Film director Vivek Agnihotri on Tuesday slammed the Delhi High Court for his remarks alleging bias against the then Justice S Muralidhar, who granted bail to activist Gautam Navlakha, accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence case. Have tendered unconditional apology before the court.

Vivek's apology came after Vivek and others did not file a reply despite the court's order and the court decided to take ex parte action against Agnihotri, Anand Ranganathan and Swarajya news portal by the high court.

A bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Talwant Singh adjourned the matter till March 16 after considering the affidavit. The Court said that since the matter was taken up suo motu by the Court, Vivek Agnihotri is directed to appear before the Court on the next date. Justice S Muralidhar had granted bail to accused Gautam Navlakha in the UAPA case. During that time, Vivek Agnihotri had accused him of favoritism in several tweets. Following this, contempt of court proceedings were initiated against Agnihotri over the tweet.

The court in September this year decided to proceed ex-parte against Agnihotri and other contemnors, Anand Ranganathan and online news portal Swarajya Patrika, noting that the contemporaries were not represented. Agnihotri then filed an affidavit tendering an unconditional apology. He also moved an application seeking withdrawal of the order of ex parte hearing and permission to participate in the proceedings.