NEW DELHI: Veteran Congress leader N D Tiwari was today rapped by the Delhi High Court for adopting "delaying tactics" in giving his blood sample in a paternity suit filed by a young man claiming to be his biological son.
Seeking an affidavit from Tiwari as to whether he admitted more than 100 photographs, submitted by the man, or deny them, Justice Gita Mittal said "There is something called discipline, being a lawyer (Tiwari counsel) you should also be bound to it. You are simply wasting court time."
The court asked Tiwari's counsel not to repeat the points which were already argued before while expressing displeasure over the lawyer's argument that his client cannot be compelled to give blood sample.
The court asked him, what actually compulsion means.
This issue has already been decided earlier and there is no point in repeating the arguments, it said.
To the court's query to Tiwari's counsel as to whether his client is willing to give anything other than blood like his skin, hair, nails or his saliva, the lawyer refused saying that his client has already filed an affidavit in this regard.
Justice Mittal said the court may draw an adverse inference adding that "if you (Tiwari) won't pass through the tests directed by court in a paternity suit, then the court may pass an order that plaintiff is his (Tiwari) son".
The court also pulled up the lawyer for his failure to file an affidavit for admission or denial the photographs presented by Rohit Shekhar claiming to be his biological son.
"Every documents has to be submitted otherwise, I will direct Tiwari to appear in person for recording his statement regarding denial and admission in each and every photograph presented," said Justice Mittal.
The paternity suit against the Congress leader was filed by Shekhar, who claims to be the 85-year-old politician's son. The court adjourned the matter till Aug 2.
Earlier, filing a personal affidavit, Tiwari had said "I have an unblemished public career which justifies me to contest against the plaintiff who is bent upon to tarish my public image by bringing false cause and even unwarranted contempt petition so as to get undue publicity in print as well as electronic media,".
"In order to preserve, protect and defend my personal dignity attained by my long cherished service to the nation as well as society, I being a senior citizen too, I am not willing to give my blood sample for DNA testing. Hence, I may not be compelled to do so," the affidavit had said.
Tiwari's five-decade political career virtually ended in 2009 after a news channel showed explicit clippings of an elderly man purported to be him with three young women in bed when he was Andhra Pradesh governor. A few days later, Tiwari resigned on health grounds.