By IANS,
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has denied anticipatory bail to a journalist, charged for fighting with hotel staff and damaging hotel property.
Justice Sunil Gaur Friday dismissed Neelam Mahajan Singh’s anticipatory bail plea and asked her to approach the trial court concerned. Singh subsequently withdrew her plea.
Opposing the bail plea, counsel for Delhi Police, Sunil Sharma, said she has not approached the trial court for bail but directly moved high court though as per the law, she has to move her bail plea before the trial court first.
Sharma further contended that police has to recover from Singh the mobile phone of a hotel staff from which he was recording the whole incident.
As per the prosecution, Singh and Sanjay Dwivedi were drinking in the Imperial Hotel’s Patiala Peg Bar Oct 12, 2008. Dwivedi then lit a cigarette.
Vaibav Singh, the hotel’s beverage manager, requested Dwivedi to stop smoking at bar since smoking was prohibited there and this led to an argument between them.
It was further alleged that Neelam Mahajan Singh interrupted and suddenly started shouting abuse and threats at the beverage manager. She also hold of the collar and his neck and pushed him several times.
She allegedly threatened to kill the employee and misbehaved with women staff also.
“Neelam Singh boasted that she was from the press and threatened that she would come back again with professional goons and would break the entire restaurant and get the staff beaten up. She damaged the property of the hotel worth thousands of rupees,” said the FIR, lodged by Vaibhav Singh.
“Most of the incident had been recorded in the camera by the bar supervisor. By her violent behaviour, Neelam Mahajan Singh caused harm to the reputation of the hotel and caused great deal of inconvenience to the guests of the hotels,” the complaint added.
The FIR charges Neelam Mahajan Singh under section 451 (trespassing), 509 (intending to insult the modesty of any woman), 341 (wrongful restraining a person), 427 (mischief causing damage), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt).