Supreme Court Issues Contempt Notices to Sanjay Raut and Nikhil Wagle

The Supreme Court of India issued show-cause notices on October 16, 2026, to Sanjay Raut, a Member of Parliament for Shiv Sena (UBT), and journalist Nikhil Wagle in criminal contempt proceedings. The legal action follows a petition filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) after both men made derogatory remarks targeting Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and the judiciary.

The controversy began after Chief Justice Surya Kant declined a personal meeting with a delegation of opposition parties. In response, Wagle posted an abusive message on X, while Raut alleged that judges attend ruling party political programs and accept dinners from Chief Ministers. Raut specifically claimed that judges played badminton with BJP leaders in London, though the SCBA noted that the Delhi High Court previously confirmed the event actually took place at Thyagaraj Stadium in New Delhi.

Attorney General R Venkataramani granted consent for the proceedings, describing the comments as prima facie scandalous and intended to lower the esteem of the court. While Wagle deleted his post and issued an unconditional apology, the court ordered Raut to explain his conduct. The bench, comprising the Chief Justice and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, granted the respondents an exemption from personal appearance for the next hearing to first consider their written explanations.