New Delhi, Aug. 10 -- The Supreme Court on Monday decided to hold a detailed hearing on whether to accept the explanation tendered by Advocate Prashant Bhushan in the contempt case taken against him in 2009 and has decided to hear the case on merits.

The bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra said that it needs to examine if any statements alleging corruption against judges would per se amount to contempt.

The bench will start hearing on August 17.

On August 4, a bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra, B R Gavai and Krishna Murari had reserved orders on whether to accept his explanation and said that it will proceed to hear the case in detail if his explanation was not found acceptable.

"In case we do not accept the explanation/apology, w...