Supreme Court issues contempt notice to Raut, journalist Wagle

The Supreme Court of India has initiated contempt proceedings against Shiv Sena (UBT) politician Sanjay Raut and senior journalist Nikhil Wagle following their social media posts that were critical of Chief Justice of India. The court issued formal contempt notices to both individuals, marking an escalation in scrutiny of public commentary on the judiciary.

In its order, the bench observed that it hopes better sense prevails and exempted both Raut and Wagle from the requirement of personal presence before the court. The exemption suggests the court's willingness to proceed with the matter without necessitating their physical attendance at this stage.

The development reflects ongoing concerns within the judiciary about the nature and tone of social media commentary directed at senior judicial functionaries. The Supreme Court has previously taken cognizance of posts and statements it views as potentially undermining judicial authority or the dignity of the court.

Raut, a prominent political figure and media personality, and Wagle, who has a significant social media following, now face the prospect of contempt of court proceedings. The notices require them to respond to the allegations, though the timeline and next steps in the proceedings remain to be determined by the court.