After making his mark as a successful criminal lawyer, Anand briefly made a foray into the media and launched a news agency, South Asia News Network International in 2004.

Anand, say his colleagues, is a great entertainer and often hosts grand parties in his lavish farmhouse in Chhatarpur. He is one of the few lawyers in the city who purchased a Mercedes Benz with a customised number plate.

The apex court Wednesday upheld a Delhi High Court ruling convicting Anand for contempt of court in trying to forge a nexus with defence counsel I.U. Khan to shield main culprit Sanjeev Nanda in the 1999 BMW hit-and-run case.

The high court had barred Anand from practising in any court in Delhi for four months. The court had also divested him of his designation as senior counsel and had imposed a fine of Rs.2,000.

While upholding the high court ruling, the Supreme Court bench of Justice B.N. Agrawal also issued notice to Anand seeking his explanation as to why his punishment should not be enhanced.