The Supreme Court on Aug 7, held Surat judicial magistrate and Vesu police inspector (PI) R Y Rawal guilty of contempt of court over the wrongful arrest and remand of an accused Tushar Shah in violation of the top court’s order.

The division bench of Justice B R Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta summoned contemnors, PI Raval and Surat Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Deepa Thakar.

The SC ordered both contemnors to be present before the bench on Sept 2 to decide the quantum of the sentence.

Per the case details, PI Raval was allegedly involved in keeping the accused, Shah in remand even after he was granted anticipatory bail. The cop also reportedly threatened to extort ₹1.65 cr from him in the presence of the complainant.

Earlier, the SC had issued notices to the additional chief secretary of the home department, the commissioner of police of Surat, the deputy commissioner of police, the inspector of Vesu police station, and the additional chief judicial magistrate on Jan 10 regarding the matter.

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