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Supreme Court Issues Contempt Notices to Nikhil Wagle, Sanjay Raut

By Drooid · Oct 16, 2026, 10:12 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Supreme Court Issues Contempt

The Supreme Court issued contempt show-cause notices to journalist Nikhil Wagle and MP Sanjay Raut.
Attorney General R. Venkataramani consented to criminal contempt proceedings under Section 15(1)(b) on October 15, 2026.
Wagle posted an abusive tweet after the Chief Justice of India (CJI) refused a meeting, then deleted it and apologized.
The bench exempted both respondents from personal appearance after Raut alleged judges accepted BJP events and dinners.

Summary

Supreme Court Orders Audit

Supreme Court bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi provisionally entertained Sanjay Raut’s petition.
Rahul Gandhi and twelve opposition leaders filed the petition challenging the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The court ordered chief Gyanesh Kumar and commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi to respond.
It directed an independent audit committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge with technical experts.

History

Historical Context

In 1976, the Supreme Court’s ADM Jabalpur decision upheld Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s Emergency powers, allowing suspension of habeas corpus and civil liberties. Chief Justice A.N. Ray led the five-judge bench, delivering a 4-1 split ruling that shocked legal scholars and opposition leaders. Today, the Supreme Court’s contempt notices to journalist Nikhil Wagle and MP Sanjay Raut echo the historic clash between judiciary authority and political actors. The precedent warns that judicial independence can be tested by executive pressure, prompting calls for robust oversight mechanisms and transparent audit committees.

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Supreme Court Issues Contempt

The Supreme Court issued contempt show-cause notices to journalist Nikhil Wagle and MP Sanjay Raut.
Attorney General R. Venkataramani consented to criminal contempt proceedings under Section 15(1)(b) on October 15, 2026.
Wagle posted an abusive tweet after the Chief Justice of India (CJI) refused a meeting, then deleted it and apologized.
The bench exempted both respondents from personal appearance after Raut alleged judges accepted BJP events and dinners.

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