Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court on Monday ordered a man to deposit ₹1 lakh as a penalty after he was seen using the toilet during virtual court proceedings.

The incident occurred on June 20 during a virtual hearing presided over by Justice Nirzar S Desai. A video showing the man, Samad Abdul Rehman Shah, relieving himself during the live-streamed session went viral, prompting the court to take suo motu cognizance.

A division bench comprising Justices A.S. Supehia and R.T. Vachhani directed Shah to deposit ₹1 lakh in the court’s registry by July 22, the next date of hearing. “The contemnor has admitted to his behavior and has expressed readiness to apologize unconditionally,” the court stated in its order.

According to court documents, Shah continued to participate in the virtual proceedings for approximately 74 minutes, during which he appeared to use the toilet. His lawyer assured the bench that Shah would issue a formal apology and confirmed that he had previously advised his client to maintain decorum during online appearances.

The viral clip, which sparked widespread criticism, was subsequently ordered to be taken down by the court due to concerns over the judiciary’s dignity and public perception. DeshGujarat