Attorney General KK Venugopal declines to give consent for contempt case against Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb

Attorney General for India (AG) KK Venugopal has declined to give consent to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Chief Minister of Tripura, Biplab Kumar Deb for comments allegedly made against the authority of courts. .In a letter written to advocate Abu Sohel, who had sought AG's permission for contempt action against Deb, Venugopal noted that extracts submitted of Deb's statements were "deplorable" and "wholly uncalled for." .However, the AG pointed out that even the Tripura High Court had declined to take action against Deb after accepting the submission that the Chief Minister's comments were misquoted and that he has the highest regard for the judiciary. "According to the reports, the request for initiating contempt proceedings, made by members of the Bar, was not acceded to by the (Tripura High) Court. The Bench presided over by the Chief Justice accepted the statement of the Chief Minister made on social media, the screenshot of which was shown to the Court. As a result, the Court refused to list the case for contempt, and the matter was closed," the AG said in his letter in response to Sohel..Therefore, by a letter dated October 2, the Attorney General declined to grant consent for the initiation of contempt proceedings against Deb.."I am sure you would appreciate that, in view of the fact that the High Court has accepted the statement made by the Chief Minister that he was misquoted and that he has the highest respect for the judiciary, it would not be appropriate for me to grant consent for initiating contempt proceedings. I, therefore, decline consent for the reasons stated", the letter issued by the AG stated. .It was earlier reported that Deb had allegedly commented that officials need not fear contempt of court and that the Chief Minister was in charge of the police. Amid ensuing controversy, Deb issued a statement that his speech was twisted and wrongly reported to project a disregard for the judiciary. .Deb added that he holds all judicial institutions in the highest esteem and is duty-bound to uphold the majesty of the judiciary. "I have not told the officers or even remotely intended to convey any message to disregard courts or disrespect court orders as reported. My words have been published out of context", Deb said. .Both the High Court of Tripura as well as the Advocate General of the State had earlier declined to initiate contempt action against Deb. .[Read Letter]