CJI Surya Kant (Source: ANI) NEW DELHI: CJI Surya Kant has taken up the death threats being issued to retired Bombay HC judge Justice Gautam Patel with the Indian high commission in London, and has been assured that adequate security arrangements have been put in place for him and his family.The CJI, who is on an official visit to the UK, met Indian high commissioner P Kumaran hours after Justice Patel went public about the threat letter delivered to his daughter’s residence in London.“I had a discussion with the high commissioner, who assured that no harm would come to him or his family and that adequate security arrangements have been made by the London police,” CJI Kant told TOI.Justice Patel on Monday had said the letter was in response to a judgment he passed in 2024. The case, which is pending appeal, sought to establish the succession and name of the Syedna, the spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community.Over the past 10 months, the Patel family has received several anonymous letters, including one in 2025 which, Justice Patel said, “accused me of having delivered my judgment fraudulently, under pressure”. The letter asked the judge to release a video on YouTube to state 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”.On the attack on his daughter in London, Justice Patel had said, “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 UK.”The high commissioner informed the CJI the threat appeared to have originated in India as the intimidation was related to a case in Maharashtra. CJI Kant said, “I have sent a message to the acting chief justice of Bombay HC (Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge) to take appropriate steps on the judicial and administrative side as the litigation pertained to local parties.” The CJI is expected to be back in India on June 12.Read the latest news on the go. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia’s Nuclear Posture Shifts As SIPRI Flags Deployment Of 12 Warheads | WatchCongress Alleges EC Blocked Delegation Amid Meenakshi Natarajan Rajya Sabha Nomination Row | WatchCongress Candidate Meenakshi Natarajan’s Rajya Sabha Nomination Rejected In MPCID Searches TMC Offices In Kolkata As Abhishek Faces Third Summons In Signature Forgery ProbeHorse-Trading Fears Trigger Congress Move As MP MLAs Fly To Bengaluru Before VotingInside TMC Turmoil: MPs Revolt, Leaders Resign and NDA aims at powerKalyan Banerjee, Kirti Azad Attack TMC Rebels As Party Faces Biggest Split YetWhy The Centre Lifted Lakshadweep’s 47-Year Liquor Ban: ExplainedPoK Unrest Deepens: Protesters Allege Crackdown, Casualties And BlackoutTMC Crisis Deepens As CID Probes Alleged Fake Signatures In LoP Selection Case | Watch123PhotostoriesFrom growing up amid curfews in Kashmir to earning Rs 2.5 lakh a day: When Aly Goni spoke about his struggles and journey in TV IndustryThis bridge in New York once hosted 21 elephants; 5 interesting things to knowTimes ‘Peddi’ star Ram Charan proved to be a family man: ‘I don’t want to miss a single moment with my daughter, Klin’London’s Billionaire Street: 5 most expensive real estate addresses attracting the world’s wealthiest buyers5 brain tumour myths that experts wish people would stop believingLewis Hamilton’s luxury sneaker collection:A look at the F1 star’s footwear obsessionFrom Aamir Khan to Lalit Modi: 10 famous personalities who fell in love with their long-time friendsIndian history and mythology to native language: 6 meaningful ways to connect children with indian heritage5 countries where tipping is considered rudeFrom ‘Om Shanti Om’, ‘Dear Zindagi’ to Yale University: Shah Rukh Khan’s most inspiring quotes that will change your outlook on life123Hot PicksCUET UG 2026 Answer KeyNFL Trade RumorsMamata BanerjeeMathew BarzalSwapnil SrivastavDana WhiteBrock LesnarTom Brady and Gisele Bündchen DivorcePoK ProtestsTop TrendingBAN vs AUS Live ScoreUS Iran warGold Rate TodayFIFA World Cup 2026Driving Licence ValidityChennai TNSTC BusGautam PatelDU Professor Murder CaseVisakhapatnam Steel Plant AccidentCBSE Class 12 re-evaluation
NEW DELHI: CJI Surya Kant has taken up the death threats being issued to retired Bombay HC judge Justice Gautam Patel with the Indian high commission in London, and has been assured that adequate security arrangements have been put in place for him and his family.The CJI, who is on an official visit to the UK, met Indian high commissioner P Kumaran hours after Justice Patel went public about the threat letter delivered to his daughter’s residence in London.“I had a discussion with the high commissioner, who assured that no harm would come to him or his family and that adequate security arrangements have been made by the London police,” CJI Kant told TOI.Justice Patel on Monday had said the letter was in response to a judgment he passed in 2024. The case, which is pending appeal, sought to establish the succession and name of the Syedna, the spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community.Over the past 10 months, the Patel family has received several anonymous letters, including one in 2025 which, Justice Patel said, “accused me of having delivered my judgment fraudulently, under pressure”. The letter asked the judge to release a video on YouTube to state 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”.On the attack on his daughter in London, Justice Patel had said, “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 UK.”The high commissioner informed the CJI the threat appeared to have originated in India as the intimidation was related to a case in Maharashtra. CJI Kant said, “I have sent a message to the acting chief justice of Bombay HC (Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge) to take appropriate steps on the judicial and administrative side as the litigation pertained to local parties.” The CJI is expected to be back in India on June 12.
