The Supreme Court in its verdict has fined Re 1 on Prashant Bhushan, Lawyer-activist for criticising SA Bobde. In case, he is not able to pay the fine by 15 September, he will be imprisoned for three years or will be banned for practising for three years, said the Court.
The matter raised attention when Bhushan in one of his tweets said that four previous Chief Justices of India played a role in destroying democracy in India in the last six years. In another tweet, Bhushan reacted in a photo of Chief Justice Bobde on a Harley Davidson last month that had flagged that he was without a helmet and face mask while keeping the court in lockdown and denying citizens their right to justice.
While handing down the sentence, referring to ‘sane advice’ from Attorney General KK Venugopal to the court and to Prashant Bhushan, the Supreme Court said, “Freedom of speech cannot be curtailed”.
A bench of the apex court has delivered the verdict comprising Justice BR Gavai, Krishna Murari and Arun Mishra. Earlier on 25 August, Justice BR Gavai, Krishna Murari had reserved their verdict and the three-judge bench had the same advice and the final verdict was given which was headed by Justice Arun Mishra.

On the last day of the hearing, Attorney general K.K. Venugopal had submitted that Bhushan should be let-off with a warning of “please don’t repeat this in future” and added that he should not be punished if he expresses regret for his remarks.