‘Supreme Court Orders Mean Nothing to Me’: SC Takes Serious View of Cop’s Insulting Outburst

The Supreme Court recently came down heavily on a Uttar Pradesh police officer accused of wilfully disobeying its directions by arresting and assaulting a man despite clear protection from coercive action. The apex court said that the findings of an internal police inquiry revealed a “deliberate breach of judicial orders” and reflect conduct that “pollutes the stream of justice".

A contempt petition was filed by Ram Sagar Tiwari, a senior citizen, who alleged that despite a Supreme Court order dated March 28, 2025 granting him protection from any coercive measures, he was illegally arrested and manhandled by the police on April 23, 2025. The officer in question, Gulaab Singh Sonkar, then in charge of Police Station Kandhai in Pratapgarh district, allegedly dragged Tiwari from his workplace to the police station and detained him overnight.

Tiwari informed the court that he had presented a copy of the Supreme Court’s order to the officer, but it was blatantly disregarded. According to the petition, Sonkar used abusive language and reportedly said in Hindi that he would not follow any Supreme Court order. The petitioner stated that the remarks were so derogatory that he refrained from reproducing them fully in the petition “for the dignity of the Court".

Taking note of these serious allegations, the Supreme Court, in its earlier judgment dated July 14, 2025, had directed the Principal Secretary (Home), Government of Uttar Pradesh, to order an inquiry by an Additional Director General of Police (ADG) into the incident. The inquiry was to ascertain whether the police had deliberately violated the top court’s order and whether proper legal procedures were followed during Tiwari’s arrest.

When the matter came up on October 17, 2025, a sealed report dated September 14, 2025, submitted by the ADG, Prayagraj Zone, was opened before the bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria.

Court perused the report and found that the investigating officers, including Sonkar and two sub-inspectors Mithilesh Chaurasia and Rajesh Kumar, were fully aware of the Supreme Court’s protective order. The report further confirmed that Tiwari had been detained unnecessarily and not informed of his arrest as required under law.

“These findings clearly indicate prima facie wilful disobedience of this court’s order,” the bench observed, warning that the act of a police officer defying the country’s highest judicial authority could not be tolerated under the “guise of police uniform.” Court said such conduct must be “dealt with iron hands".

Appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, Additional Advocate General Sharan Thakur acknowledged the seriousness of the findings and informed the court that the State would take immediate disciplinary action against the erring officers. He sought time to apprise the court of the measures taken in response to the inquiry’s conclusions.

Granting the State’s request, the bench directed that the matter be re-listed on November 7, 2025, for compliance and status of action taken. It clarified, however, that the Principal Secretary (Home) was only a necessary but not a proper party in the contempt proceedings.

Case Title: Ram Sagar Tiwari Vs Gulaab Singh Sonkar & Anr

Order Date: October 17, 2025

Bench: Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria