The Delhi High Court has sentenced businessman, Nitin Bansal to one month of simple imprisonment along with a fine of Rs. 2,000, after holding him guilty of criminal contempt of court.
The bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Rajneesh Kumar Gupta found that Bansal had attempted to threaten and obstruct a Court-appointed Local Commissioner during an inspection by placing an air gun on the table to create intimidation.
The bench observed that Bansal’s conduct amounted to a deliberate interference in the administration of justice, attracting criminal contempt under Section 2(c)(iii) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
The contempt proceedings stem from an earlier case concerning a dispute over the handling and sale of 30,000 tons of industrial coal by a partnership firm linked to Bansal’s family. The High Court had restrained his father, Ashok Bansal, from dealing with the coal or transferring firm assets while the matter was pending.
However, allegations were made that the order was being violated, leading to the appointment of Advocate Nandini Bali as Local Commissioner to inspect the premises in Faridabad.
According to the Commissioner’s report, during the inspection on July 13, 2024, Nitin Bansal arrived at the site while the inspection was ongoing, behaved rudely and uncooperatively, and placed a pistol-like firearm on the table to intimidate the inspection team.
Police officers accompanying the Commissioner seized the weapon.
Bansal later claimed that the object was merely a toy gun, used to scare stray animals. However, the Court summoned the weapon, had it produced in open court, and confirmed it was a real air gun, rejecting his explanation as misleading and false.
The Court emphasized that Local Commissioner functions as an extension of the Court, and any attempt to threaten or obstruct them is equivalent to obstructing the Court itself.
The court held that Bansal’s behaviour reflected a “deliberate attempt with evil motive” to block the Court’s lawful process.
The unconditional apology tendered on his behalf was not accepted, with the Court noting that it appeared to be insincere and merely procedural.
While the initial sentencing order directed immediate custody, Bansal’s counsel requested time on account of a family wedding. The Court granted limited relief, directing that Nitin Bansal must surrender voluntarily to the Jail Superintendent, Central Jail No. 2, Tihar and on or before November 6, 2025.
Failure to surrender will permit authorities to proceed in accordance with law.
Case Details
Case Title: Court On Its Own Motion Versus Nitin Bansal
Case No.: Cont.Cas.(Crl) 16/2024
Date: 29th October, 2025
Counsel For Respondent: M.C. Dhingra, Sr. Adv.
