MP High Court Initiates Suo Moto Criminal Contempt Against BJP MLA For Attempting To Influence Judge In Illegal Mining Case
Madhya Pradesh High Court took suo motu action against BJP MLA Sanjay Satyendra Pathak for allegedly trying to influence a judge in an illegal mining case.
Case Background
The incident stemmed from September 1, 2025, when Justice Vishal Mishra recused himself from a writ petition on excess mining by companies linked to Pathak’s family—Anand Mining Corporation, Nirmala Minerals, and Pacific Export—in Jabalpur’s Sihora area.
The petition, filed by Katni resident Ashutosh Dixit, alleged illegal operations worth over ₹443 crore, including on forest land, with no prior action from authorities. Justice Mishra noted Pathak’s attempt to call him for a discussion on the matter.
Court Action
On April 2, 2026, a division bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf found prima facie criminal contempt and ordered registry to register a suo motu petition, listing it for April 6, 2026.
Pathak, a former minister and MLA from Vijayraghavgarh (Katni), issued an unconditional apology via counsel on April 6, but the court required his personal appearance on April 21, 2026.
This upholds judicial independence amid political pressure in high-stakes mining disputes. Proceedings continue, with potential penalties under contempt laws for undermining court authority.
