Allahabad High Court Frames Contempt Charges Against Man Over 'WhatsApp Message' Accusing Judicial Officer Of Corruption, Treason

The Allahabad High Court recently framed criminal contempt charges against a man who is prima facie found to have circulated a WhatsApp message among the advocates, accusing an Additional District Judge posted in Basti of accepting bribes for writing fake and forged order sheets and for committing treason. A bench of Justice JJ Munir and Justice Pramod Kumar Srivastava directed that the alleged contemnor (Krishna Kumar Pandey) be tried for 'scandalizing' and 'lowering' the authority of the Court within the meaning of Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. Briefly put, a reference was made by the Additional District Judge, Fast Track Court-I, Basti against the alleged contemnor under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. The reference stated that Pandey had posted a message in a WhatsApp group of advocates of District Basti containing serious allegations of corruption against the presiding officer, Vijay Kumar Katiyar, ADJ (FTC-I), Basti, accusing him of taking bribes and writing "fake and forged order sheets" in pending civil and criminal proceedings. The message, written in Hindi and widely circulated among lawyers, further alleged that the judge had "crushed the law and Constitution", and was "creating a new system of justice" while engaging in 'corruption'. The alleged message reads thus:"न्यायालय की कार्यवाही में मा० न्यायाधीशों ने जानबूझकर कानून व संविधान को कुचल कर जाली व फर्जी आर्डरशीट की कूटरचना कर एक नया न्याय शास्त्र की रचना करने व एक नया न्यायतंत्र विकसित कर भारतीय कानून के शासन को समाप्त करने का प्रयास किया है व अपने कार्यालय की महिमा, गरिमा और विश्वसनीयता को समाप्त कर दिया है जी राष्ट्र द्रोह व भ्रष्टाचार व गैर कानूनी गतिविधि रोकथाम अधिनियम के अन्तगत अपराध है।" [Translation : In the court proceedings, the learned Judges have deliberately crushed the law and the Constitution, fabricated forged and fake order-sheets, created a new jurisprudence and developed a new judicial system, thereby attempting to abolish the rule of Indian law and destroying the dignity, decorum and credibility of their office which acts which amount to offences of treason, corruption, and under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.] The reference observed that the abovesaid allegations were calculated to scandalize the Court and undermine its authority. The Administrative Judge of the High Court, after examining the reference, found substance in the allegations as he observed that the act amounted to contempt for "browbeating the Judicial system, scandalizing and terrorizing the Court". The matter was then placed before the Division Bench holding the roster for criminal contempt. The contemnor was served notice and given repeated opportunities to defend himself, a proposal which he denied claiming that he was competent to defend himself. During the proceedings of the matter, the Court noted that while Pandey was not an advocate, yet he was a member of WhatsApp groups meant for practicing lawyers of Basti. When notices were issued to office bearers of the Bar Associations of the district, the Court was assured that corrective steps would be taken to prevent such misuse of professional groups. Regarding the merits of the case, the bench, at the outset, rejected Pandey's following two objections: permission of the Advocate General was necessary before proceeding to prosecute him, andthe matter should be transferred under an alleged “in-house procedure” for complaints against subordinate judges. The Court opined that no such requirement or mechanism exists in law. Thereafter, finding a prima facie case against him, the Court framed the following charge: "That you, Krishna Kumar Pandey…by your act in publishing the following post on the WhatsApp group…committed an act which scandalises and lowers the authority of the Court of the Additional District Judge/Fast Track Court-I, Basti…and thereby committed criminal contempt of court punishable under Section 12 read with Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971". The contemnor has pleaded not guilty and claimed trial. The Court then directed that the charge, notice and all relevant papers be served upon him through the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kanpur Nagar, and fixed the matter for hearing on October 9, 2025. The Bench observed that the allegations and their viral circulation on social media amounted to bringing the Court to disrepute and thereby committing criminal contempt of Court punishable under Section 12 read with Section 2(c) 1971 Act.

Allahabad High Court Frames Contempt Charges Against Man Over 'WhatsApp Message' Accusing Judicial Officer Of Corruption, Treason

Sparsh Upadhyay

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