'Judge stood up in respect when Dileep entered courtroom'; court directs police to register case against man for remarks insulting judge

KOCHI: The Ernakulam Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-II has directed the police to register a case against a man who allegedly made remarks to the media insulting the trial court that delivered the verdict in the actress assault case. The action will be taken against Charles George, who had claimed that the judge stood up in respect when actor Dileep entered the courtroom. The court directed the Ernakulam Central Police Station SHO to register a case on a complaint filed by P J Paulson through advocates Rahul Sashidharan and Gijeesh Prakash.

The Ernakulam Sessions Court pronounced the verdict in the actress assault case on December 8. After the verdict, Charles George spoke to the media in front of the Ernakulam District Court complex. The complaint alleges that his statements were insulting to the judge and the court. George had claimed that he was present in the court on the day the verdict was delivered.

In his remarks, George said that the verdict was biased, that the judge used to stand up respectfully when the accused entered the court, that the judgment was "unjust," and that the real accused had escaped. The complaint states that these allegations were made deliberately to provoke the public and undermine the dignity of the judiciary.

The complainant also submitted a USB flash drive containing the video of Charles George speaking to the media. He told the court that he had earlier approached the Kochi City Police Commissioner and the Central Police Station, but no action was taken, following which he moved the court.