On 2026-10-16 Chief Justice Surya Kant declined to meet a delegation of opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi. The refusal was described in court filings as prompting allegations of judicial bias and electoral irregularity misconduct, setting the stage for the controversy that followed.
The chronology shows that on 2026-10-11 Nikhil Vagale made critical comments about the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Supreme Court issues show-cause notices to Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut and journalist Nikhil Wagle in criminal contempt proceedings over their public remarks concerning the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the judiciary. https://t.co/9HxuxTXQMM
The following day, 2026-10-12, Sanjay Raut made claims about CBI officials. His statements added to the growing chorus of criticism directed at investigative agencies and, by extension, at the judiciary overseeing them.
The Supreme Court Bar Association filed a criminal contempt petition against journalist Nikhil Wagle and Uddhav Sena leader Sanjay Raut.
The claim was presented as evidence of improper judicial‑political mingling.
Nothing wrong with apologising if Supreme Court thinks I’ve made inappropriate remarks: Sanjay Raut https://t.co/ySoWeFUrsp https://t.co/8b53AA2yik
Raut also alleged that judges attend political programmes organised by the ruling party and accept dinners hosted by Chief Ministers. These accusations were cited in the contempt petition as attempts to undermine the perceived impartiality of the courts.
The claims record that Nikhil Wagle posted the phrase " you CJI!" on his X account. The post was directly tied to the Chief Justice’s decision to decline the meeting request from the opposition delegation led by Rahul Gandhi.
Supreme Court issues show-cause notices to Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut and journalist Nikhil Wagle in criminal contempt proceedings over their public remarks concerning the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the judiciary. https://t.co/xik5dcqOKE
The Supreme Court Bar Association filed a criminal contempt petition against journalist Nikhil Wagle and Uddhav Sena leader Sanjay Raut. The petition argued that their statements constituted gross criminal contempt by being scandalous and false.
Attorney General R Venkataramani granted consent for the contempt proceedings to move forward. His endorsement was noted in the source summaries as supporting the Bar Association’s position.
On 2026-10-16 the Supreme Court issued a notice requiring Wagle and Raut to show cause why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them. A second notice on 2026-10-20 reiterated the same request, though neither date summoned the individuals to appear in person.
Chief Justice Surya Kant reacted to the episode with the remark, "May better sense prevail. We can only pray." He also warned that the judiciary cannot be intimidated and observed that many people do not realise they are being "trapped" by the legal process. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta publicly backed the Bar Association’s stance.