INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL,MUMBAI vs V.K. AGARWAL . — CONMT.PET.(C) No. 287/1998

The Supreme Court held that V.K. Agarwal, the Law Secretary, committed gross contempt of court by writing letters questioning the judicial decision-making process of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal without proper verification. The Court found that Agarwal's conduct—based on an unverified pseudonymous complaint and his peremptory demands for explanations from the Tribunal President—constituted deliberate interference with judicial functioning and a threat to judicial independence. The Court rejected his apology and found him guilty, imposing a fine of Rs. 2,000. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.