Court Suspends Sentence on Condition of Good Behavior for One Year
The Kerala High Court has convicted Sub-Inspector VR Rineesh of Alathur police station under the Contempt of Courts Act for verbally abusing an advocate, sentencing him to two months of simple imprisonment. However, the Court suspended the execution of the sentence on the condition that Rineesh refrains from committing any similar offenses for a year.
Justice Devan Ramachandran, while passing the order, underscored that this ruling serves as a clear message to all police personnel regarding the consequences of disrespecting legal professionals. “Let this be an example to all,” the Court emphasized.
The case arose from an incident in which Rineesh allegedly used abusive language and expletives against an advocate. The Kerala High Court Advocate Association (KHCAA) had also filed a petition calling for a fast-track mechanism to address police misconduct, which was considered alongside the present matter.
Despite initially submitting a conditional apology, Rineesh later provided a second affidavit offering an unconditional apology. The Court, however, expressed disappointment that the apology was not forthcoming at the first instance, stating that a timely apology holds greater weight.
Although the officer’s sentence was suspended, the Court made it clear that if he engages in any further actions violating the Contempt of Courts Act within the next year, the sentence will be enforced. If no such offense is committed, the sentence will lapse after the one-year period.
(With inputs from agency)
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