CJI Surya Kant Meets Indian High Commissioner In London Over Security Concerns For Justice Gautam Patel's Family In UK

Days after the news pertaining to the dire threats being issued to Bombay High Court's former judge Justice Gautam Patel and his family members and  the attack on his daughter in London, the family has been provided with security and protection by the Hertfordshire Constabulary.

Reliable sources from the Bombay High Court Administration have confirmed that the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, while on his official visit to the United Kingdom (UK), met Indian High Commissioner P Kumaran in London, and asked him to ensure the safety of Justice Patel's daughter and her family, who reside in London. 

"After CJI Kant's intervention, the High Commission provided him with the status of the case pertaining to the threats received by his family members and also the assault on his daughter Aditi Patel. As assured by the High Commission, with their intervention, now the family has been given proper security and protection by the Hertfordshire Constabulary," the source confirmed.

Further, the Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra and also the Commissioner of Police, Mumbai have briefed Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge of the Bombay High Court about the incident and the previous non-cognisable complaint on the threats received by Justice Patel's family in Mumbai.

Reportedly, Justice Patel and his family have been facing threats for the last 10 months now over a judgment he delivered on April 23, 2024, wherein the judge held that Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin was the rightful successor and 53rd Dai al-Multaq, the spiritual head of the Dawoodi Bohra community.

As per reports, the judge's wife received threat letters in Mumbai while his daughter received similar threat letters in London, where she lives, threatening the family of dire consequences if Justice Patel failed to "recant" his judgment via a YouTube video. The judge's daughter, Aditi Patel, was also attacked by a masked man on the streets of London.

Meanwhile, the Bombay Bar Association (BBA) along with Advocates Association of Western India (AAWI) and the Bombay Incorporated Law Society (BILS) has filed PIL in the HC, seeking urgent intervention of the Court to take note of the incident and to issue appropriate directions to the respondent Authorities for the protection of the retired judge of this and his family members in light of the grave threats issued to them.

"These attacks and the threats are a direct attack on the independence of the judiciary and may also be aimed as a threat to the judges hearing the appeal against the ruling in question thereby interfering with the administration of justice," the PIL reads.

The PIL seeks constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising sleuths from the Maharashtra Police, the CBI and also the NIA.

"Judges regularly preside over cases involving dangerous criminals, terrorists and influential political figures. Adequate security prevents retaliation or coercion, ensuring that rulings are based solely on law and facts. In the present matter, an appeal has been filed against the April 2024 ruling rendered by Justice Patel as a single judge and the same is pending consideration before a division bench. Thus, the demands in the threatening letters issued to Justice Patel and his family members (to release a video recanting his ruling) appear to be a coercive tactic to browbeat or threaten even the judges hearing the appeal in the matter," the PIL states.

The PIL was mentioned before a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad, which has agreed to hear it and the same will be listed in due course.

On Monday (June 8) the BBA had issued statement through its President and Senior Advocate Nitin Thakker condemning the entire incident. 

"The Association records its strongest condemnation of any attempt to threaten, intimidate, harass, assault or otherwise target a Judge or members of a Judge's family on account of the discharge of judicial functions. Reports that a member of Justice Patel's family suffered physical injury in the course of one of these incidents render the matter particularly disturbing and warrant the most serious attention of the authorities," the BBA had said in its statement.