‘Judges cannot be threatened for their verdicts’:High Court seeks DGP report on threats to Muslim judge

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of alleged death threats issued against Additional District Judge (ADJ) Tabassum Khan, posted in Narmadapuram, who recently sentenced 14 convicts to life imprisonment in a high-profile 2022 mob lynching case. The court has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) and the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to file affidavits within three days detailing the steps taken in the matter. The next hearing has been scheduled for July 9. Following the threats, security around the judicial officer has been strengthened. High Court condemns attempts to intimidate judiciary A division bench of Justice Vivek Agarwal and Justice Avanindra Kumar Singh observed that a judicial officer cannot be threatened simply because a section of society is unhappy with a court verdict. The bench said such actions amount to an attempt to exert pressure on the judiciary and undermine the administration of justice. Lawyers’ body condemns abusive social media campaign The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) also condemned the threatening and inflammatory social media posts targeting the judge. The association said judicial orders should be challenged before appellate courts through legal remedies, adding that threatening or defaming judges over their decisions is unacceptable. See pictures of those who threatened the judge Police identify inflammatory speeches, probe social media posts Police said individuals from outside Madhya Pradesh allegedly travelled to Seoni Malwa to deliver provocative speeches following the verdict. Among those named by police are Daksh Chaudhary from Delhi and Brijbihari Sarkar (also known as Aniket Shastri). According to police, Brijbihari allegedly made inflammatory remarks, including threats against alleged cattle smugglers and “jihadis.” Superintendent of Police Sai Krishna said a case was registered 13 days ago, but the accused responsible for the threats have not yet been identified. He added that strict action would be taken against those delivering inflammatory speeches from outside the state. Threats surfaced after life sentence verdict On June 12, ADJ Tabassum Khan sentenced 14 people to life imprisonment in the Seoni Malwa mob lynching case. Following the verdict, several videos circulated on social media in which individuals allegedly threatened violence if the convicts were not released within ten days. In one video, a woman allegedly targeted the judge with communal remarks, referring to her religion and warning that she would “face the consequences” for sentencing the 14 convicts. Police register case, monitor 150 social media accounts Police have registered an FIR against two unidentified persons based on the viral videos and social media posts. According to officials, around 150 social media accounts that allegedly shared inflammatory or objectionable content have been identified. The posts and related links have been removed, and details of the accounts have been sought from Facebook and Instagram to establish the identities of those involved. Police said legal action would be taken against individuals found responsible for threatening the judge, spreading communal hatred, or attempting to disturb law and order. Life imprisonment for 14 murderers, Muslim judge threatened with murder, VIDEO Background: 2022 mob lynching case The case dates back to August 3, 2022, when a truck carrying around 30 cattle from Madhya Pradesh to Amravati, Maharashtra, was stopped near Barakheda village in Seoni Malwa.
According to the prosecution, a mob comprising villagers and self-styled cow vigilantes allegedly assaulted the three occupants of the truck with sticks and rods.
Truck driver Sheikh Lala, who survived the attack, told police that a group of around 50–60 people stopped the vehicle and began assaulting them without questioning them. One of the victims, Nazir Ahmed, later died from his injuries. A video of the incident had also surfaced, showing a crowd attacking the victims while shouting slogans.
After nearly three years of trial, the court convicted 14 accused, sentencing them to life imprisonment for offences including murder, attempt to murder, rioting, and wrongful restraint.