CJI Surya Kant Takes Up Threats To E Judge Gautam Patel With Indian Envoy In UK, Seeks Protection

Published 10 June 2026 · europe

Surya Kant Takes Up Threats To E Judge Gautam Patel With Indian Envoy In UK, Seeks Protection Published By, Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 08:28

Surya Kant Takes Up Threats To E Judge Gautam Patel With Indian Envoy In UK, Seeks Protection Published By, Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 08:28 IST Surya Kant said UK authorities have assured security for retired judge Gautam Patel and his family after threats linked to the Dawoodi Bohra succession case. A file photo of Chief Justice of India () Surya Kant (PTI) Chief Justice of India () Surya Kant has intervened in the matter of alleged threats and intimidation faced by former Bombay High Court judge Justice Gautam Patel, raising the issue with India’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom during his ongoing visit there, according to a report by The Times of India. The development comes after Justice Patel publicly disclosed that a threatening letter had been delivered to his daughter’s residence in London, allegedly in connection with a judgment he delivered in 2024 concerning the Dawoodi Bohra succession dispute. The report quoted Surya Kant as saying that he had discussed the matter with Indian High Commissioner P Kumaran and received assurances regarding the safety of Justice Patel and his family. “I had a discussion with the high commissioner, who assured that no harm would come to him or his family and that the London police have made adequate security arrangements," the told the newspaper.

According to Justice Patel, the latest threat letter was linked to a judgment he delivered last year in a case involving the succession and identity of the Syedna, the spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community. The matter is currently under appeal. Justice Patel said his family has received several anonymous letters over the last 10 months. One communication received earlier this year allegedly accused him of delivering his judgment fraudulently and under pressure. The letter, according to Justice Patel, demanded that he upload a video on YouTube stating that he had “delivered an incorrect verdict which has caused irreparable harm to the faith and future of a respected community of a million plus members". The retired judge also spoke about what he described as a deliberate attempt to exploit jurisdictional boundaries by targeting his daughter in the United Kingdom. “This is a clever attempt to leverage the jurisdictional gap between Mumbai and London. There has been no attack on me in Mumbai, for that would result in immediate local action. Instead, the attack is directed against my daughter, a British citizen, on British soil. The connection to me and the judgment remains, but the actual attack, and therefore actual investigation, gets localised to the UK," Justice Patel said. The report mentioned that the Indian High Commissioner informed the that the threat appeared to have originated in India, as the intimidation was connected to litigation arising out of Maharashtra.