Sanjay Pathak, a BJP MLA, personally appeared before the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday in a closely watched criminal contempt case involving calls and messages sent to Justice Vishal Mishra. Appearing before the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Vivek Rusia, Pathak filed an unconditional affidavit admitting his mistake and tendering an apology. The episode has kept both the judiciary and political circles in Madhya Pradesh talking for months.
What Sanjay Pathak's affidavit said
In the affidavit, Pathak stated that the call placed to Justice Vishal Mishra had gone through by mistake and carried no intent behind it. He added that the message sent afterward was meant only to introduce himself. The affidavit specifically noted that the call to the judge's mobile phone resulted in just a single ring, meaning no conversation actually took place.
Court reserves its order, but not without a sharp remark
After hearing arguments from both sides and recording Pathak's apology, the High Court has reserved its verdict in the matter. According to advocate Aryan Urmaliya, no record of the disputed call or message was placed before the court. Even so, the bench orally observed that while a call going through by mistake could be treated separately, deliberately following it up with a message to introduce oneself does not sit well with judicial propriety. The court described this as a serious matter tied to contempt of court.
Pathak declines to say how he got the judge's number
Once the hearing wrapped up, reporters asked Sanjay Pathak how he had obtained Justice Vishal Mishra's personal mobile number. He refused to comment on the question, saying only that it was now for the court to decide what happens next.
How the controversy surfaced on September 1, 2025
The case traces back to an incident on September 1, 2025, when Justice Vishal Mishra told the open court that an MLA had tried to contact him. At the time, he was hearing a case involving alleged illegal mining linked to that MLA's family. To preserve judicial impartiality, Justice Mishra recused himself from hearing that case.
Petition by Katni resident Ashutosh Manu Dixit set off the proceedings
Following that, Katni resident Ashutosh Manu Dixit filed a petition on the matter. Taking it up, the High Court treated it as a serious issue concerning the dignity of the judiciary and issued a notice to Sanjay Pathak. Earlier, the court had also rejected Pathak's request for exemption from appearing in person.
On Ashutosh Manu Dixit's complaint, a penalty of roughly Rs 430 crore imposed on various companies linked to Sanjay Pathak's family has also been referenced in the state Assembly. The High Court's final verdict in this contempt case is now awaited.
