Former Judge Gautam Patel Receives Death Threats Over Dawoodi Bohra Succession Verdict

Former Bombay High Court judge Justice Gautam Patel has filed a complaint with Mumbai Police after he and his family allegedly received a series of threatening letters related to his 2024 judgment in the Dawoodi Bohra succession dispute .

According to the complaint, anonymous threats have been sent to the family over the past ten months . The situation escalated on June 5 when a letter bearing a German postal mark was delivered to the London residence of Justice Patel's daughter. The letter allegedly warned of a threat to the family's life, claimed that a "contract" had been issued against them, and contained a digital storage device that has been handed over to London police.

Justice Patel said that he lodged a complaint with Mumbai's Gamdevi Police on Sunday. The perpetrators allegedly demanded that he upload a YouTube video apologising for his judgment and retracting his findings on the succession and title of the Syedna, the spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community. Similar letters were also received at his Mumbai residence.

Last week, London police provided security to Justice Patel and his family after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant raised the issue with Indian High Commissioner P. Kumaran during an official visit to the UK.

In April 2024, Justice Patel upheld Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin as the legitimate 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq, ruling that a valid nass (appointment) had been established. The verdict rejected claims made by the late Khuzaima Qutbuddin and later pursued by his son, Taher Fakhruddin . The matter is currently pending before a division bench of the Bombay High Court.

The incident has renewed concerns about threats against judges and challenges to judicial independence , with legal experts warning that intimidation of judicial officers undermines the rule of law and public confidence in the justice system.