Delhi High Court Issues Notice To Journalist, AAP's Gopal Rai In Contempt Plea Over Posts Against Justice Swarana Kanta

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notices to journalist Saurav Das and AAP leader Gopal Rai on a plea seeking contempt action against them for posting contemptuous content against Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on social media.

The plea filed by one Ashok Chaitanya had also sought against against Arvind Kejriwal and Saurabh Bhardwaj. However, the Court noted that they have already been served notice in the suo motu criminal contempt plea.

The Court has now listed both Chaitanya's plea and the suo moto contempt case together for hearing on August 04.

Meanwhile, the Court has asked its Registry to preserve the social media content relied upon by the Petitioner.

During the hearing, a division bench comprising Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Ravinder Dudeja observed, "Single judge by a judgment has already initiated contempt proceedings against respondent 1 and 2 (Kejriwal and Bharadwaj). We have issued notice also to the respondents. Keeping in view the same, instead of multiplying the number of matters, this contempt case be also taken up along with that matter. However, as Rai and Das are not parties to the contempt, let notice be served on them without process fee returnable on August 4."

It ordered, "Let Kejriwal and Bhardwaj be supplied material of this petition...This petition be also supplied to the amicus. Registry shall preserve the social media material relied on in the petition."

The plea alleges that during the hearing of recusal application in relation to excise policy case before Justice Sharma, the AAP leaders and the journalist initiated a “concerted and orchestrated campaign” on X (formerly Twitter), published and amplified content containing “serious, unfounded, and scandalous allegations” against her.

Chaitanya has said that the posts alleged a “supposed conflict of interest, bias, and impropriety, based on misleading assertion” relating to the professional engagements of the Judge's family members.

“The continued availability of the impugned posts in the public domain, coupled with the large number of abusive and contemptuous comments being generated thereunder, has further aggravated the harm caused, eroding public confidence in the administration of justice,” the plea said.

For context, the Bench recently issued criminal contempt notices to Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Durgesh Pathak and other AAP leaders after Justice Sharma initiated contempt proceedings against them.

This was after Justice Sharma took note of note various social media posts and videos shared by the respondents in connection with the recusal proceedings.

She had earlier rejected the recusal applications like by Kejriwal and others. She has nonetheless transferred the liquor policy case to another single judge.

Title: Sh. Ashok Chaitanya v. Sh. Arvind Kejriwal & Ors