SC seeks Sanjay Raut's explanation over conduct in SIR electoral rolls plea
Synopsis
The Supreme Court has put Sanjay Raut's participation in the INDIA bloc's SIR electoral rolls challenge on notice — entertaining his petition only provisionally after his claim that he saw 60-70 judges, including the CJI, playing badminton with BJP leaders in London. With a criminal contempt petition already filed against him, the 27 October hearing will determine whether Raut's involvement in the high-stakes case survives.
Key Takeaways
The Supreme Court on 16 October 2026 directed Sanjay Raut to explain his conduct, entertaining his petition in the SIR challenge only on a provisional basis.
The order was passed by a Bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi in W.P. (C) No.
Raut had claimed on 12 October that he saw 60 to 70 judges , including the CJI, playing badminton with BJP leaders in London.
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has filed a criminal contempt petition against Raut and journalist Nikhil Wagle .
The SIR electoral rolls challenge was filed by 13 opposition leaders , including Rahul Gandhi , Mallikarjun Kharge , and Akhilesh Yadav ; next hearing on 27 October .
The Supreme Court on 16 October 2026 sought an explanation from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut over his conduct, while provisionally entertaining his petition as part of a broader challenge to the Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The petition was filed by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders alleging large-scale voter deletions and irregularities in the revision exercise.
What the Court Ordered
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed that Raut explain his conduct before his petition could be formally entertained. The Bench's order stated: 'In W.P. (C) No. 1351/2026, the petition on behalf of Petitioner No. 6 (Sanjay Raut) is entertained on a provisional basis, subject to his explaining his conduct.'
The apex court also issued notice on the opposition leaders' plea, returnable on 27 October, directed respondents to file replies by the next date of hearing, and ordered that the matter be tagged with a pending batch of related petitions.
The Controversy Behind the Move
The development follows remarks made by Raut during a media interaction on 12 October, in which the Rajya Sabha member from Shiv Sena (UBT) claimed he had seen 60 to 70 judges, including the CJI, playing badminton with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in London. The remarks triggered sharp reactions from the legal fraternity.
The controversy had its roots in CJI Surya Kant's refusal to convene a meeting with Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who had sought to present a memorandum on the SIR exercise. The CJI had said that such a meeting would be contrary to the constitutional principle of separation of powers, describing it as an intrinsic facet of the basic structure doctrine.
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has separately filed a criminal contempt petition against Raut and journalist Nikhil Wagle over their alleged remarks against the CJI. Notably, this is the first time the Court has directly flagged a petitioner's conduct within the SIR challenge proceedings itself.
The SIR Challenge and Key Petitioners
Raut is one of 13 opposition leaders who approached the Supreme Court on 12 October, challenging the ECI's SIR exercise. The petition names the ECI, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi as respondents.
Other petitioners include Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Saugata Roy, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, among others. The petitioners allege that the SIR has resulted in arbitrary and large-scale deletions from electoral rolls, potentially disenfranchising voters ahead of upcoming elections.
What Happens Next
The matter is scheduled for hearing on 27 October, by which date Raut is expected to submit his explanation on conduct. The Court had earlier indicated it would examine the behaviour of one of the petitioners at the next hearing — a reference that has now been confirmed as pointing to Raut. The continuation of his petition in the consolidated batch will depend on the Bench's assessment of that explanation. The broader SIR challenge, backed by major opposition leaders, will proceed alongside this question of conduct.
Point of View
But the signal is unmistakable: the judiciary will not allow political commentary about judges to pass without scrutiny, even from petitioners before it. This is a test case for how courts handle the blurring line between legitimate political dissent and contemptuous conduct. The SCBA's contempt petition running parallel to the SIR proceedings creates a potential procedural tangle that could distract from the substantive question — whether the ECI's voter roll revision has disenfranchised citizens. The opposition would be well-served to let the legal arguments speak, rather than supply the court with a conduct question that could overshadow the case's merits.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Supreme Court sought an explanation from Sanjay Raut?
The Supreme Court has sought an explanation from Sanjay Raut over remarks he made on 12 October, in which he claimed to have seen 60 to 70 judges, including CJI Surya Kant, playing badminton with BJP leaders in London. The Bench led by CJI Surya Kant directed that his petition in the SIR electoral rolls challenge would be entertained only provisionally, subject to his explaining the conduct.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to update and revise electoral rolls. A group of 13 opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, have challenged the exercise in the Supreme Court, alleging large-scale voter deletions and irregularities that could disenfranchise citizens ahead of elections.
Who are the petitioners challenging the ECI's SIR exercise?
The petition was filed by 13 opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena (UBT), TMC's Saugata Roy, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and RJD's Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. The ECI, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi are named as respondents.
What is the criminal contempt petition filed against Sanjay Raut?
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has filed a criminal contempt petition against Sanjay Raut and journalist Nikhil Wagle over their alleged remarks against CJI Surya Kant. The petition is separate from the SIR electoral rolls challenge but arises from the same set of remarks made by Raut during a media interaction on 12 October.
When is the next hearing in the SIR electoral rolls case?
The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for 27 October 2026, by which date respondents are required to file their replies. The matter has been tagged with a pending batch of related petitions, and the Court is expected to assess Sanjay Raut's explanation on conduct at the same hearing.
