Justice Patel Receives Death Threats After Dawoodi Bohra Succession Ruling
Retired Bombay High Court Justice Gautam Patel, known for his integrity, has been subjected to death threats and an assault on his daughter following his judgment in a contentious Dawoodi Bohra community succession case. The threats, delivered via anonymous letters to his family in Mumbai and London, demand that he publicly recant his decision on YouTube. The case involved two factions of the prosperous Shia Muslim community from Gujarat: one supporting the current Dai (religious head) and the other backing the previous Dai's brother, who claimed an oral promise of succession. Justice Patel ruled in favor of primogeniture, dismissing the oral promise as insufficient evidence.
Assault on Daughter and Threat Letters
On April 22, 2026, Justice Patel's daughter was assaulted in a London suburb. She filed a complaint with local police. Weeks later, she received an anonymous letter threatening to kill her family unless Justice Patel issued a statement admitting to an erroneous judgment under pressure from the rival faction. Similar letters were sent to his wife at their Mumbai home. Justice Patel, refusing to be intimidated, filed a criminal intimidation complaint with Mumbai police, who registered a case.
Metropolitan Police Investigation Urged
The identification of the perpetrators remains a priority. Justice Patel's friend, former police officer Julio Ribeiro, noted that the Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard) have been ineffective and called for deploying top detectives. Ribeiro linked the threats to a crime syndicate of Pakistani-origin Muslims in the UK involved in trafficking European girls and drug supply, as reported by MP Rupert Lowe. Ribeiro attempted to contact retired senior British police officer Lord Geoffrey Dear for assistance but failed to reach him.
Bombay High Court and CJI Step In
Last week, the Bombay High Court was informed that round-the-clock police protection has been provided to Justice Patel and his family. The court observed, “A judge who has done his duty and demitted office is facing this (threats). The Union and the state governments need to act swiftly.” Chief Justice of India Surya Kant discussed the matter with the Indian High Commissioner in London, resulting in security arrangements for the Patel family. However, Ribeiro emphasized the need for Scotland Yard to identify the culprits to uphold the rule of law.
Implications for Judicial Independence
Ribeiro warned that targeting judges for their decisions undermines the separation of powers essential to democracy. He recalled similar pressures during the Punjab terrorism era. He praised Justice Patel as one of many upright judges who volunteer with his NGO, Public Concern for Governance Trust, to mentor young law students. The case highlights the vulnerability of retired judges and the necessity of robust protection mechanisms.
