Supreme Court summons Sanjay Raut and Nikhil Wagle for contempt

The Supreme Court of India has directed Shiv Sena (UBT) Member of Parliament Sanjay Raut to appear in person on November 17 regarding a criminal contempt case. The case involves public remarks made by Raut and journalist Nikhil Wagle targeting Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and the judiciary.

The contempt petition was filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) after obtaining consent from the Attorney General. The proceedings follow social media posts by Raut, which included references to the burning of Albania’s Supreme Court, and remarks by Wagle.

While Raut has been ordered to appear physically, the court has permitted Wagle to attend the hearing virtually, noting his unconditional apology and the deletion of his social media posts. Sanjay Raut has stated he intends to comply with the court's direction and has expressed that he had no intention of insulting the judiciary.