Delhi HC Gives Last Opportunity To Kapil Kakar To Reply In Contempt Case Over Videos Accusing Judge Of Corruption

The matter was earlier initiated after the Delhi High Court Bar Association approached the Court over Kakar’s social media videos concerning the Saket building collapse. The Court had prima facie found the contents of the videos contemptuous and had directed issuance of a show-cause notice to Kakar.

During today's hearing, Advocate Tanveer Nizam, appearing virtually from Mumbai, informed the Bench that he had recently been engaged by Kakar and sought two to three weeks’ time to prepare the matter.

Nizam submitted that he needed to file his vakalatnama, examine the documents and prepare a detailed case law compilation before arguing the matter.

He also told the Court that he had been briefed by Advocate Abhishek Mishra, who had connected him with Kakar, and that he would seek to appear for the respondent-contemnor.

Senior Advocate N. Hariharan was appearing for the DHCBA. 

The Bench, however, was not inclined to grant a long adjournment.

The Court noted that Kakar had already received the show-cause notice and that the matter concerned both the contempt proceedings and the discharge application. It also examined the office report concerning service of the show-cause notice. Kakar informed the Court that he had received the notice by email. As no reply had been filed to the show-cause notice, the Bench granted one week as the last opportunity to Kakar to file his reply.

The Court also directed that the vakalatnama of the counsel representing Kakar be filed within one week.

The matter has now been listed for hearing on September 29, 2026.

Background of Contempt Proceedings 

The contempt proceedings stem from videos uploaded by Kakar following the Saket building collapse, in which allegations were made against a sitting Delhi High Court judge.

The High Court had earlier noted that the videos went beyond criticism of judicial orders and contained allegations of corruption, favouritism, quid pro quo and criminality against the judge. The videos also used expressions such as “real criminal”, “murderer” and “habitual offender”.

The Court had held that while fair criticism of judicial orders and institutions is permissible, allegations attributing corruption, collusion or improper motives to judges without lawful basis cannot be equated with legitimate criticism.

The Court had also refused to recall its earlier directions blocking Kakar’s social media accounts, after noting that he had indicated an intention to continue uploading videos through new accounts.

Earlier directions had required platforms including Meta, Google, X and LinkedIn to take down or block the URLs containing the videos and substantially similar versions.

The Division Bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Vikas Mahajan had subsequently directed issuance of a formal show-cause notice under the Contempt of Courts (Delhi High Court) Rules, 2025, asking Kakar why contempt action should not be initiated against him.

The matter will now be heard on September 29.

Earlier orders required platforms to remove videos and similar content

The earlier June 8 order had directed Meta, Google, X and LinkedIn to take down, remove, disable access to and block URLs containing the subject videos.

The directions extended to identical, mirrored, modified, edited, clipped, reproduced, re-uploaded or substantially similar versions of the videos. The platforms were also required to act against subsequently discovered URLs containing such material within 24 hours of notification by the Registrar General.

The platforms were further directed to provide available Basic Subscriber Information, including names, email addresses, contact numbers, IP logs and registration details relating to accounts or users responsible for uploading, publishing or disseminating the videos.

Background

Last month, the Court had refused to unblock psychologist Dr. Kapil Kakar’s social media accounts, which were blocked pursuant to its earlier orders over videos containing allegations of corruption, collusion and criminality against a sitting Judge in connection with the Saket building collapse.

The Court had taken cognizance under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, after finding the contents of the videos prima facie contemptuous. It directed issuance of a formal show-cause notice to Kakar as to why contempt action should not be initiated against him.

The Bench had passed the order on August 20 while hearing a contempt petition filed by the Delhi High Court Bar Association against Kakar. Meta Platforms Inc., Google LLC, X Corp and LinkedIn Corporation were also respondents. It had earlier observed that while fair criticism of judicial orders and institutions is permissible, allegations attributing corruption, collusion, criminality or improper motives to Judges without any lawful basis cannot be equated with legitimate criticism.

It had prima facie found the impugned material to be scandalous and contumacious and a direct interference with the justice delivery system.

Case Title: Delhi High Court Bar Association v. Dr. Kapil Kakar and Others

Bench: Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Vikas Mahajan

Hearing date: September 7, 2026