The Supreme Court Bar Association(SCBA) has filed a petition initiating criminal contempt proceedings against Journalist Nikhill Wagle and MP Sanjay Raut for their remarks against the Chief Justice of India. The petition has been filed after obtaining written consent from the Attorney General for India.

SCBA has stated that the statements made by the alleged contemnors are deliberately and knowingly made to scandalise and diminish the authority of the Supreme Court.

As per their petition, after the CJI declined to meet the delegation of Opposition parties in connection with ongoing protests in Delhi, Wagle posted from the account @waglenikhli stating: " **** you CJI".

SCBA, in its petition filed under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, has submitted that such a deliberate and intentional post made on social media by a senior journalist to a mass audience scandalises and tends to lower the authority of the Court.

SCBA says that Raut also made false statements and alleged that the judges attend political programmes of the ruling party and accept dinners hosted by Chief Ministers, as reported by IANS. Reportedly, he referred to the alleged photographs of judges playing badminton with political figures in London and imputed allegations against the CJI and other judges.

While granting consent, AG R Venkataramani observed that their comments are prima facie "scandalous and intended to lower the esteem of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, particularly the Chief Justice of India". The AG thus allowed the request made by SCBA President Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai.

In a related development, Wagle today expressed an unconditional apology for his comment, saying that it was an emotional outburst, and that he has deleted the post.