A handful of white mustard seeds sprinkled inside a courtroom in Karnataka state has allegedly landed a 65-year-old woman behind bars, with police accusing her of trying “black magic” to influence the outcome of her case.
According to news agency PTI, the woman was arrested after CCTV footage of the incident, which occurred on Thursday and has since gone viral on social media, showed her performing the act before the court proceedings began.
Police identified the woman as Manjula, who appeared due to a civil dispute and reached court early. The report added that she sprinkled white mustard seeds on the judge’s chair before the proceedings began.
Citing the preliminary investigation, a senior police officer said that the woman may have resorted to this ritual in the hope of getting a positive verdict in her case.
Following a complaint filed by the court’s chief administrative officer, the police registered a case against her under the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017.
“The woman has been arrested and the court has remanded her in custody for 14 days. Further investigation is underway,” the officer said.
Also read: CJI abuse and throwing of papers: Behind the ruckus in the Supreme Court by Lucknow man
Drama in the Supreme Court
Recently, dramatic scenes unfolded in the Supreme Court as well when one of the petitioners, who appeared in person, said he was “directing” the court to order registration of an FIR against a Lucknow police officer.
The petitioner, identified as Prabal Pratap, addressed the dual bench of Justice KV Vishwanath and Justice Alok Aradi as “judicial servant” and claimed to be “sovereign”. He was filing a petition challenging the order of the Allahabad High Court.
“Mr Judicial Officer, I request you to order registration of an FIR against ACP Vikas Nagar Lucknow,” the petitioner said in a video that went viral on social media.
Justice Vishwanath, clearly astonished by the petitioner’s behaviour, asked the petitioner: “You are ordering us?”
He replied: “I am sovereign.”
The situation became more tense inside the courtroom when the petitioner threw what appeared to be case papers into the air and abused the court.
“Ye de dena CJI ko (Give this to the CJI),” he said while using obscenities as he was led away by court officers.
Even after these dramatic scenes, the Supreme Court bench considered the case on its merits and passed an order in which the judges made it clear that they would not take any action against the petitioner for his insulting behaviour.
“We, considering the condition of the petitioner, do not propose to take any action against him,” the order said.
(With inputs from PTI)
