The Supreme Court will announce its order on the point of sentence against lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan in contempt case on August 31, reported news agency ANI. The apex court on Tuesday reserved its judgment in a case filed against Bhushan for his tweets against Chief Justice SA Bobde . 

The apex court on Tuesday gave 30 minutes to Bhushan to reconsider his stance of not retracting his statement and his refusal to apologise over his tweets. Bhushan refused to offer an apology for his two tweets, saying they represented beliefs which he continued to hold.

Bhushan was held guilty of criminal contempt on August 14 for two derogatory tweets against the judiciary, saying they cannot be said to be a fair criticism of the functioning of the judiciary made in the public interest.

He could face imprisonment of up to six months or with a fine of up to Rs 2,000 or with both as punishment.

The bench, which also consisted of Justices B R Gavai and Krishna Murari, said Bhushan had made disparaging remarks against the judiciary even in his affidavit, adding that there was no point in giving advice to a person who does not think he did anything wrong.

 “A person should realise mistake, we gave Bhushan time but he says he will not apologise,” it said.

On August 20, the top court had granted time till August 24 for Bhushan to reconsider his “defiant statement” refusing to apologise and tender “unconditional apology” for contemptuous tweets.

In its 108-page verdict, the top court said, “The tweets which are based on the distorted facts, in our considered view, amount to committing criminal contempt.”