The Supreme Court on Wednesday sentenced four women members of Mumbai’s Boss School of Music to three months’ imprisonment for hurling a slipper at a judge, holding that it amounted to “contempt in the face of the apex court.”

The apex court directed that Sarita Parikh, Annette Kotian, Pavitra Murali and Liela David be arrested forthwith for the March 20 incident when one of them hurled a footwear at Justice Arijit Pasayat (since retired) in the courtroom during the hearing of a case related to the school.

While Parikh and Kotian, who were present in the courtroom, were taken into custody by the security, the apex court asked the police commissioners of Mumbai and Delhi to take steps to apprehend the other two women.

It also imposed a cost of Rs one lakh on each of the four members for filing frivolous petitions making wild allegations against the President, Prime Minister and court/judiciary.

The order was pronounced by a three-judge bench of Justice Altamas Kabir, Justice G S Singhvi and Justice H L Dattu. The bench was constituted by Chief Justice of India K. G. Balakrishnan after differences of opinion had cropped up between Justice Pasayat and Justice A. K. Ganguly on whether a contempt case was made out in the wake of the incident witnessed by senior advocates and law officers.

Justice Pasayat, who was heading the Bench along with Justice Ganguly, was the target and had ordered three months’ imprisonment for the four women.

However, Justice Ganguly had differed with him, saying the accused should be given a chance to defend. In this background, the larger Bench dealt with the issue and upheld the order of Justice Pasayat.

The Boss School of Music was founded by Glen Fernandes at Vasai in 1996. Police have registered several cases against its members, some of whom have been accused of being allegedly involved in prostitution and indulging in black magic.

The Supreme Court had on November 4 last ordered a high-level inquiry into the school’s affairs.