Former Judge Patel gets police cover; HC calls threats to him over Syedna verdict ‘serious’, seeks report
Retired Judge Gautam Patel and his family, getting threatening letters over his 2024 verdict on the succession row in the Dawoodi Bohra community, have been
Retired Judge Gautam Patel and his family, getting threatening letters over his 2024 verdict on the succession row in the Dawoodi Bohra community, have been provided police protection, the Maharashtra government on Monday told the Bombay High Court. Public prosecutor Shishir Hiray, appearing for the government, informed a bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad that two police officers will be present with Justice Patel and his wife, based in Mumbai, at all hours. A case has also been lodged with the Gamdevi police here by the retired Bombay HC judge over the threats and an investigation was underway, he said. The court noted that this was a serious issue and said it wants the Mumbai Police Commissioner to personally supervise the case and submit a status report on July 2. "A judge who has done his duty and demitted office is facing this [threats]. The Union and the state governments need to act swiftly. His [Patel] protection is most important. You need to prove how committed you are," the court said. The bench said both Justice Patel, his wife and also daughter, who are in Mumbai, should be adequately protected. It directed the Union government to submit what steps it has taken on the incident when Justice Patel's daughter was physically assaulted in April this year in London.
The Centre shall also submit the steps taken by the police there in London in its probe in the case, the bench said. "With regard to the case lodged here in Mumbai, we request the commissioner of police to personally supervise the probe and submit a status report on July 2," the court ordered. The bench was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by three lawyers associations seeking judicial intervention in the issue. Senior counsel Nitin Thakker, appearing for the petitioners, insisted a strong message needs to be sent out that such threats would not be tolerated by the judiciary. The plea urged the HC to direct authorities concerned to grant protection to Justice Patel and his family in light of the threats. The PIL sought the HC to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a retired Supreme Court or High Court Judge and/or direct the CBI or the Maharashtra government to thoroughly investigate the attacks and threats. Meanwhile on Sunday (June 14, 2026), the Mumbai police lodged a case against unknown individuals on charges of criminal intimidation after Justice Patel submitted a complaint. Justice Patel and his family claimed to have received multiple anonymous threat letters over the past 10 months, and the harassment escalated on June 5 when a highly threatening letter bearing a German postal mark was delivered to the London residence of his daughter.
The BriefWire