Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has tendered an unconditional apology before the Supreme Court over his remarks concerning Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and the judiciary, seeking to bring the criminal contempt proceedings initiated against him to a close. The apology comes even as the Court has directed Raut to appear physically before it on November 17, when the matter is scheduled to be taken up next.
In an affidavit submitted before the Court, Raut expressed remorse over his statements and conveyed his respect for the Supreme Court and the judicial institution. He sought the Court’s forgiveness, maintaining that his apology was unconditional and that he had no intention of undermining the dignity, independence or authority of the judiciary. The Court is yet to decide whether to accept his apology and what further course the proceedings should take.
The development follows a contempt petition filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), whose President, Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai, had expressed concern that the remarks attributed to Raut and journalist Nikhil Wagle crossed the boundaries of fair criticism and could erode public confidence in the judiciary. Rai had said the association was reluctant to initiate contempt proceedings but feared that allowing such statements to pass without scrutiny could embolden others to make similarly inappropriate remarks against the institution and damage its reputation.
The controversy arose after CJI Surya Kant reportedly declined a request for an in-person meeting with a delegation of Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, who sought to raise concerns relating to the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The SCBA alleged that subsequent remarks by Raut questioned the impartiality of judges and made assertions about their purported participation in political events and interactions with political leaders.
The petition also referred to claims concerning photographs allegedly showing judges playing badminton with political figures in London. The Delhi High Court had previously found that the photographs in question related to an event held at Delhi’s Thyagaraj Stadium in November 2025, rather than London, and had directed the removal of the misleading content. The Attorney General for India, R. Venkataramani, granted consent for initiating criminal contempt proceedings, observing that the statements warranted scrutiny for their potential to lower the standing of the Supreme Court.
On October 16, the Supreme Court issued show-cause notices to Raut and Wagle. The proceedings are being considered under the Court’s contempt jurisdiction, following the SCBA’s petition and the requisite consent of the Attorney General.
At the hearing on October 28, a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M. Pancholi was informed that Wagle had tendered an unconditional apology and deleted his post. The Bench permitted him to appear virtually at the next hearing. The SCBA, represented by Rai and other counsel, also drew the Court’s attention to the statements attributed to Raut. As no counsel appeared for Raut during the hearing, the Bench directed him to remain personally present on November 17 at 2 pm.
The Supreme Court’s consideration of Raut’s apology will determine whether his expression of remorse is sufficient to warrant closure of the contempt proceedings. The matter is listed for further hearing on November 17.
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