Bombay High Court Launches Contempt Case Against Advocate Ojha for Judge Defamation

Fast Summary:

• The Bombay High Court initiated a second suo motu criminal contempt proceeding against advocate Nilesh Ojha on September 18, 2025.
• Mr. Ojha allegedly made “disparaging, scandalous, adn defamatory” statements against sitting judge Justice Revati Mohite Dere.
• He is required to submit a written statement within four weeks; further hearing is scheduled for october 16.
• A five-judge bench observed that his comments were intended to undermine judicial integrity and credibility, using terms like “forgery,” “bias,” and “dishonesty.”
• The case stems from an April press conference where Mr. Ojha accused Justice Dere and former Chief Justice devendra Upadhyay of corruption and claimed political bias connected to the Disha Salian death investigation petition.
• Videos containing the statements were ordered removed by the court from YouTube and ABP Majha due to their defamatory nature.
• The court warned legal professionals including Mr. Ojha’s team of advocates that misconduct could erode public trust in judicial systems.

Indian Opinion Analysis:
The Bombay High court’s initiating criminal contempt proceedings against advocate Nilesh Ojha highlights its strong stance on protecting judicial integrity from defamatory conduct that threatens institutional credibility. Allegations aimed at sitting judges have broader implications for public trust in India’s judiciary, which serves as an essential pillar of democracy.By swiftly addressing concerns such as misuse of media platforms to propagate baseless claims, the court emphasizes accountability not just for individual offenders but also among legal professionals who are held to higher ethical standards within this framework.

Removing scandalous content ensures safeguarding justice from external interference while reiterating judiciary independence-a cornerstone in governance under law in India-especially amid cases involving sensitive matters like alleged high-profile investigations or deaths with political undertones such issues can create ripple narratives misguided distrust long term!