Contempt Against BJP MLA For Calling MP HC Judge: Supreme Court Allows Whistleblower To Approach HC For Being Heard

The Supreme Court on Monday permitted a whistleblower to approach the Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking to be heard in suo motu criminal contempt proceedings initiated against a BJP MLA accused of contacting a High Court judge.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi allowed petitioner Ashutosh Dixit to withdraw his plea with liberty to move the High Court to assist in the contempt proceedings.

Background

The matter arose out of a writ petition filed by Ashutosh Dixit before the Madhya Pradesh High Court alleging illegal and excess mining by three companies allegedly associated with BJP MLA Sanjay Satyendra Pathak.

During the pendency of that petition, Justice Vishal Mishra of the High Court recused from hearing, after recording - "Mr. Sanjay Pathak has made an attempt to call me to have discussion regarding this particular matter, therefore, I am not inclined to entertain this writ petition."

After that, Dixit filed another writ petition seeking action against the legislator for trying to contact the judge. The division bench of the High Court, on April 3, took cognizance of the matter to initiate criminal contempt proceedings and disposed of Dixit's petition.

Dixit was, however aggrieved with the disposal of the writ petition, as he had sought other reliefs, seeking investigation, etc. Therefore, he approached th Supreme Court challenging the High Court's order, to the extent his petition was disposed of without considering other reliefs.

Hearing Before Supreme Court

Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the alleged act of a sitting MLA contacting a judge warranted serious action.

"A sitting MLA called up the judge and the judge expressed his distress. Now my writ is disposed of," Kamat argued.

The bench however pointed out that the High Court has already taken cognisance. Kamat argued that the High Court should have initiated action on the administrative side. He voiced the apprehension that the contempt matter might be dropped if the contemnor expressed an apology after saying 'galti se lag gaya'

Without appreciating this submission, the Chief Justice said : "Do not make political statements. We do not appreciate. This is a new fashion...you cannot dictate what the Court should do.."

At one stage, the Chief Justice remarked: "Just because your political mileages were not achieved, you are here."

The Court further stated that if the alleged conduct had indeed occurred, appropriate action must follow through the established legal process. "If someone has done this action, they must be taken to task," the CJI said.

The Supreme Court ultimately permitted the petitioner to withdraw the plea and granted liberty to approach the Madhya Pradesh High Court to seek permission to assist in the pending criminal contempt proceedings.

Case: Ashutosh Dixit vs State of Madhya Pradesh | SLP(C) No. 13674/2026