Narada Scam Case Hearing : CBI vs TMC MLAs - Live Updates From Calcutta High Court

Singhvi says CM's dharna was a 'Gandhian way of protest' without any exhortation of violence.

Singhvi says that the Chief Minister had appealed for peaceful protests.

Acting CJ again asks Singhvi about the propriety of CM's dharna for 6 hours at CBI office.

Singhvi : What is the protest if I don't sit for few hours?

Singhvi : There is a democracy tax. Protests will have something disorderly or chaotic. That is the price we pay for democracy. 

Acting CJ : What is the duty of the leaders? Should they stand to disperse the followers or to incite them?

Singhvi : I will answer as a lawyer. I keep Chinese walls between by different roles. No leader should do anything to impede the course of justice.

Acting CJ asks Singhvi : You are saying protests and bail order are not connected as protests did not impede the hearing?

Singhvi agrees. Says the CBI is using the protests as a pretext and an excuse.

'Power of arrest is no obligation to arrest' : Singhvi.

Singhvi says one of the accused, Mr.Mukherjee, is 82-year old. He is a 50 year old MLA. There is no flight risk. Other accused are also aged with comorbidities.

Singhvi says that the grant of bail and the protests were not connected.

"There is an attempt to connect two un-connected things", he says.

Singhvi : There will be outpouring of emotions in such cases.

He refers to examples of arrests of Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt.

"It does not mean that the administration of justice has been impeded" , Singhvi adds.

Singhvi : What is the fact which shows that the law minister standing in the court complex influenced the judge? Did he (judge) even know if the minister was there? There were many people. It is natural.

Acting CJ : It is not natural.