The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) has written to the Supreme Court's Secretary General, requesting that the caller who claimed responsibility for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security lapse in Punjab last week be prosecuted.
SCAORA Secretary Joseph Aristotle S. noted in a correspondence that numerous high court advocates-on-record got an anonymous automated pre-recorded call from +447418365564, one at 10.40 a.m. and another at around 12.36 p.m. on Monday.
Also read: Security Breach of PM Modi: What went down?
"Fastening responsibility for Prime Minister Modi's security breach during his visit to Punjab on January 5 on Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) from the United States, where it was stated that SFJ is responsible for blocking PM Modi's cavalcade at Hussaininwala flyover in Punjab," the communication continued.
The caller urged the Supreme Court justices to dismiss the NGO Lawyer's Voice's petition for a security breach investigation, claiming that the Supreme Court had failed to prosecute the perpetrators of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. "In light of this, it is requested that immediate action be taken as this is a violation of the advocates' privacy as their mobile numbers are in the public domain and have been compromised as all confidential data and sensitive information pertaining to cases before the Supreme Court, as well as banking details, are stored on their respective mobile phones, and miscreants may misuse the sensitive data if the mobile phones are hacked," the communication continued.
In a tweet, senior lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani said: "The audio supplied to AORs in the SC by the "Sikhs for Justice USA" should be handled with caution. The recording might be a publicity stunt or an attempt to obfuscate the identity of the perpetrators. However, because it involves a veiled threat to SC judges/AORs, the NIA must look into it right now."
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The motion was brought before the Supreme Court by senior attorney Maninder Singh, who was representing the Delhi-based petitioner Lawyer's Voice. He emphasised the necessity of security for the country's prime minister, citing a prior high court judgement on the subject.
The petition demanded an impartial investigation of the PM's security breakdown in Punjab. It asked District Judge Bathinda to collect, preserve, and provide any documentation relevant to the movement and deployment of Punjab Police in connection with the Prime Minister's visit, as well as assigning duty to the DGP and the Punjab Chief Secretary.
PM's security breach occured when he was going to address a public gathering in Punjab.DNA India/Wikipedia
"The AOR community is also urging the Supreme Court not to hear the case of the Prime Minister's security violation. The accused are threatening all lawyers to put a halt to the apex court's hearings on the PM's security breach, claiming that if they don't, there would be severe repercussions that will jeopardise the country's national security and integrity "Prakash stated in his obedient tone.
The callers claimed to be from the United Kingdom. The calls came from the phone number +447418365564, which is registered to the company 'Likely Sales.'
The calls, according to Prakash, were alarming and terrified the AOR community, which had been threatened and warned of grave repercussions by the London-based organisation. (IANS/PR)
(Keywords: Supreme Court, PM Security Breach, Punjab, Sikh, Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association, Senior lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani)