The Supreme Court on Friday (October 16, 2026) issued show-cause notices to Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut and journalist Nikhil Wagle in criminal contempt proceedings over their public remarks concerning Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and the judiciary.
A Bench comprising the CJI and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, however, exempted Mr. Raut and Wagle from personal appearance on the next date of hearing, saying it would first consider their explanations. The show-cause notices were issued on a contempt plea filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). SCBA President and senior advocate Pradeep Rai alleged that the remarks by Mr. Raut and Mr. Wagle went beyond the bounds of fair criticism and were capable of undermining public confidence in the Supreme Court.
The controversy followed the CJI’s decision to decline a request for a personal meeting by a delegation of Opposition parties, indicating that the matter could instead be brought before the court through a petition.
