Retired Justice Gautam Patel has received a series of threats in the last few months over a 2024 verdict in a case related to the Dawoodi Bohra succession row. Apart from threats, his daughter too faced a physical assault in April this year in London.
In April 2024, Justice Patel had upheld the position of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin as the 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq (leader) of the Dawoodi Bohra community, while noting that he had a valid appointment.
The Bombay Bar Association has issued a resolution condemning repeated threats and called for strict action against the perpetrators. However, speaking to India Today TV’s Vidya, Justice Patel says that in spite of the attack and threats, “every authority has been passing it off to the other.”
Edited Excerpts
Q – When was the threat received for the first time?
Justice Patel – The threat was first received in Mumbai in September by my wife. We complained to the police and I filed an NC complaint. I received protection and spoke to the Commissioner of Police at that time. Nothing happened until April 22, when there was a physical attack on my daughter just outside her home, across the street from her front door, after she had finished the school run with one of the children. A masked man in a hoodie punched her repeatedly in the face. She suffered a fractured nose and fell to the ground. And on Friday, June 5, we received a letter which said that we had not complied with the demands and now had to face the consequences. It said the next step would be cremation for me and my family. It is unbelievable. It really is.
Q – What did the threats state?
Justice Patel – The September threat said two or three things. One, that they are a powerful guild within the Dawoodi Bohra community. Two, that they are not concerned with the appeal filed by the plaintiff, the losing party in the succession case. But they want me to go to what is effectively the “High Court of YouTube” and make a video recanting my judgment. It is absurd. There is no concept of recanting a judgment, let alone on YouTube. An appeal has been filed; it is pending and will be decided by the appellate court.
Q – What more was stated in the threat letter?
Justice Patel – It said that if I do not recant, great harm will befall me and my family since they have engaged a dangerous criminal syndicate. The latest threat says the syndicate has been fully paid, and the contract can only be cancelled if I comply by making this so-called YouTube video. In Bombay, this is a supari contract — what else is it? It is clearly someone with resources. Someone claiming to belong to the Dawoodi Bohra community and a powerful guild within it. I do not care which side of the litigation they are on; I am the victim here.
It has been carefully engineered because no harm had taken place in India beyond the threatening letter in September. Everybody knows where I live and where my office is. Instead, my family in London has been targeted. This has created a jurisdictional issue — nothing in India to an Indian citizen, but something in England involving a British citizen, my daughter, who is an OCI as well.
Q – Since the threats and attack, what has been the response of the authorities?
Justice Patel – Every authority is passing the matter to the other. The High Commission says they cannot act because the attack involved my daughter, who is a British citizen. But the latest threat has been received by me, an Indian citizen and former judge, while I am on British soil. I fail to understand how the Indian High Commission in the UK can refuse or neglect to act. I am an Indian citizen. I have not heard from them. I sent a detailed letter on Saturday with all the details. It is now Monday afternoon here. There has not even been an acknowledgement. What does it take? Should I send them an invitation to my cremation or what? It is absurd.
Q – Since the threats and attack on your daughter, what has been the response of the authorities?
Justice Patel – The police came immediately and stayed for about an hour and a half. But it is England, and over the weekend nothing moves. I am hoping to hear from some authority — the High Commission, the Metropolitan Police, or local police.
Q – Has the attack on your daughter been connected to these threats?
Justice Patel – Yes, it is connected to this very case. The June 5 letter said that I did not comply and that my daughter has already suffered the consequences. The letter even enclosed an SD card, which is now with the police. I do not know what is on it and I am not going to insert it into my computer.
Q – Has this affected your daily life?
Justice Patel – Of course. Normal activities like going to the neighbourhood store or dropping children at school have become situations of heightened risk. You are constantly looking over your shoulder and taking safety precautions. It is a complete disruption.
And what does this say about the impact on the Indian judicial system? Which judge is safe? Years after delivering a judgment, someone may come and demand a recantation on YouTube under threat to your family. This is the triumph of criminality and a breakdown of the rule of law. It has to be rooted out. A strong message must go out that this will not be tolerated, and those responsible will be caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
– Ends
