Supreme Court seeks Sanjay Raut's explanation in electoral rolls case

The Supreme Court issued notices over an opposition petition challenging electoral roll revisions. Sanjay Raut's participation remains provisional pending an explanation of his conduct.Stock photo used for illustrationNewdelhi,Oct 16, 2026 12:16 ISTThe Supreme Court has said Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut will have to explain his conduct while issuing notices to the Election Commission and its chief, Gyanesh Kumar, over a petition alleging irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, news agency Press Trust of India reported.The petition was filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi along with 12 other opposition leaders, including Raut. The court said it was provisionally accepting the petition on Raut's behalf, subject to his explanation.A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said on Thursday: "In WP (C) No 1351/2026 (Item 25, filed by Gandhi), the petition on behalf of petitioner no. 6 (Raut) is entertained on a provisional basis, subject to his explaining his conduct."During the hearing, the Chief Justice, without naming anyone, said: "We will ask one of the petitioners about his conduct on the next date of hearing." The Chief Justice also responded strongly when some lawyers alleged that Gandhi and other opposition leaders, who marched to the Supreme Court on October 12, had been trying to browbeat the judiciary."Nobody can browbeat us (judiciary)," the Chief Justice said. "We are not sitting in ivory towers. We know what statements they are making outside and what they are saying in court. We know everything." Raut had recently reportedly criticised the Chief Justice for refusing to meet Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over the issue concerning the Election Commission.The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission, the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi to respond to the petition, according to PTI.The petition seeks an independent committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge and assisted by technical experts and other eminent citizens. It has asked that the committee conduct, within a fixed period, an independent audit of deletions and changes made during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.The court has, therefore, sought responses from the Election Commission and its officials while provisionally entertaining Raut's petition, subject to his explanation of his conduct.- Ends