The Supreme Court on Friday issued show-cause notices to Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and journalist Nikhil Wagle in criminal contempt proceedings over their remarks against Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and the judiciary.
Sanjay Raut had allegedly made ‘deliberately misleading and disparaging’ remarks against the Chief Justice after he refused to meet the Opposition delegation.
“The courts have never lagged behind in protecting rights. If you still keep condemning, it’s very unfortunate. Hope better sense prevails on everyone,” he added. Raut had also allegedly referred to photographs of judges playing badminton with political figures in London and made allegations against the Chief Justice and other judges.
Raut had made ‘deliberately misleading and disparaging’ remarks against the Chief Justice after he refused to meet the Opposition delegation on October 12 , according to the petition by the SCBA.
“Attacks on institution are deeply unfortunate,” a bench of Chief Justice Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said while hearing a criminal contempt petition filed against Raut and Wagle by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Friday. “People don’t understand that they are being trapped,” Chief Justice Kant said. The petition said that Raut had claimed that judges attend political events of the ruling BJP and participate in dinners hosted by chief ministers but don’t meet the Opposition leaders. The petition also said that Wagle posted an alleged abusive remark directed at the Chief Justice on his X account. Sanjay Raut claimed that he was being “targetted” and said he was ready to go to jail.
