Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed its registry to place two reports in a sealed cover submitted by Mumbai Police and also the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) with respect to the probe and protection following threats to former judge, Justice Gautam Patel, to maintain confidentiality.“In order to ensure that steps being taken by Ministry of External Affairs, the High Commission in London and Mumbai police are not a matter of discussion and publicity we are placing both in a sealed cover,’’ said Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad in their order.The probe is into alleged threats received by him in connection with a legal dispute, he decided days before his April 2024 retirement. The case, which is currently under appeal before a division bench of the HC, sought to establish succession and name the Syedna, the supreme leader, of the Dawoodi Bohra community.ASG Anil Singh produced an office memorandum dated June 30, that the Centre’s counsel had received via email indicating steps taken for protection of the retired Bombay HC judge and his family members residing in the UK. State advocate general Milind Sathe, too, produced a 6-page note of additional police commissioner (crime) of Mumbai of similar protection steps taken and status update on probe into the alleged incident, the HC said. The former judge had on returning to India lodged a police complaint of threats to him and family.Singh orally submitted that the ministry took steps to ensure protection of the Judge’s family abroad.The ACJ orally at the hearing said probe confidentiality is key. He said, “Remember the Mumbai (terror) attacks (of Nov 28, 2008)? There was continuous live coverage on channels of the attack. It gave all details to the assailants. We do not want assailants in this case to know the line of investigation.”The Bombay Bar Association, Advocates Association of Western India (AAWI) and a solicitors’ body—Bombay Incorporated Law Society– had last month approached the HC for directions to protect the former Judge and sought formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the allegations.The HC placed the matter on August 7 for further status updates after senior counsel Nitin Thakker for BBA said police appeared to be making progress in the matter and can give a further update then.
