"If you had any problem you could have approached the court but you had no authority to take law into your hands", the bench told Tiwari

The Supreme Court today pulled up Delhi BJP President Manoj Tiwari for breaking the lock of a sealed house in Northeast Delhi's Gokulpuri last Sunday.

Tiwari appeared in person along with his lawyer senior advocate Vikas Singh in response to contempt notice issued on September 19.

Tiwari has been directed to file an affidavit in three days not only explaining his act but also giving proof pertaining his statement to a TV channel that there are 1000 other illegal properties in the area which was not sealed but "this particular" property was being selectively targeted.

"You don't worry, leave it to us. In the affidavit, you list the 1000 properties. You go and seal it. We will make you a sealing officer", Justice Madan B Lokur who heads the bench also comprising of Justices Deepak Gupta and Abdul Nazeer told Tiwari.

Advocate Singh went on to say that 'Monitoring committee was seeking publicity using your Lordships forum and the property in question had nothing to do with SC order".

But Justice Lokur asked him to say all of these in an affidavit and fixed next date of hearing as October 3.

The Supreme Court, under whose direction the sealing drive against illegal construction and unauthorized mixed land use is taking place had initiated criminal contempt proceedings against Tiwari.

SC was acting on a report filed by court-appointed monitoring committee seeking stringent action against Tiwari.

“It is rather unfortunate and deeply disturbing that an elected member of parliament should try to defy the orders of this Court. His act amounts to interference in administration of justice and is contempt of court”, the bench had said on September 19.

The property in question had been sealed by the EDMC for allegedly running an illegal dairy from the premises.

The SC order came after the monitoring panel reminded the SC of its earlier order that “none will tamper with the seals any tampering with the seal will be sternly dealt with”.

“We request the honourable court to pass stringent directions including contempt proceedings against Manoj Tiwari”, it said

“We had recommended stringent action against political leaders and others found obstructing the sealing process by taking them into custody. Monitoring committee submits that despite repeated directions of the SC the members of political parties and other such persons are intentionally and deliberately violating and showing utter disregard to the directions passed by SC for political gains”, the report said.

Delhi Police already lodged an FIR against Tiwari on Tuesday.

It is alleged that hours after the case was filed, Tiwari visited the same neighbourhood and again tried to break the seal, terming the corporation’s action “illegal”.