High drama was witnessed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday during the hearing of the bail application filed by municipal councillor Davinder Singh Babla.

Senior Standing Counsel for UT Administration Anupam Gupta and senior advocate R S Ghai, who was representing Babla, entered into a heated argument when the latter demanded a stay on the arrest of Babla.

Justice Rajesh Bindal refused to stay the arrest of Babla and said: “This is not a case for interim relief.” The hearing was adjourned to October 5.

The court also issued notices on the anticipatory bail application.

While Gupta submitted that he strongly opposed the bail, Ghai objected to Gupta’s statement and asked him to argue the matter during the resumed hearing. Taking strong exception to the objection, Gupta responded: “I will fight against corruption wherever it exists.”

Tempers ran high between the senior counsels as Ghai countered: “This was not expected of you.” Making an equally sharp reply, Gupta said: “I will not learn morality from you.”

Justice Bindal asked the two lawyers to calm down and not argue with each other. Despite repeated requests made by Ghai to grant stay on Babla’s arrest, Justice Bindal refused to give any interim relief. “Let me hear the Administration first. Your client is smart enough,” he told Ghai. On the other hand, Gupta submitted that Babla was already on the run and should not be granted stay on his arrest.

Earlier, Ghai countered the allegations of forgery levelled against Babla.

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