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Tenor of Medha Patkar and Arundhati Roy's affidavits irk SC

"The charges made in the petition against them have been denied, but the tenor of the affidavits may itself be contemptuous," the bench comprising Justice G B Pattanaik and Justice U C Banerjee said.

The Supreme Court had issued notices to Patkar, Roy and advocate Prashant Bhushan for allegedly raising derogatory slogans against the apex court during a dharna outside the court in December last year protesting against the court's decision to allow construction of the controversial Narmada dam.

The bench said with the affidavits filed, two ways were now open: one - to drop the proceedings on the basis of the their denial or to enquire into the allegations.

The original allegations might not be contemptuous but the tenor of the present affidavits have to be looked into, the bench said while asking Additional Solicitor General Altaf Ahmed to suggest to the court the course to be adopted in the proceedings.

Turning its attention to the three advocates who had filed the contempt petition, the bench said, "If the allegations are found to be false you may be also sent to jail".

Patkar, Roy and Bhushan were personally present in the court.

The bench exempted their personal appearance till further orders.

The court put the case for further hearing in the first week of August.

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