Controversy Surrounds Justice Kaul's Attendance at Diwali Party Amid Allegations

The recent attendance of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul at a Diwali party hosted by Saurav Das has sparked controversy, with senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani raising questions about potential conflicts of interest. Jethmalani's concerns extend to allegations regarding the influence of political groups on judicial processes and the implications of Justice Kaul's memoirs. This situation highlights the ongoing scrutiny of judicial independence and the relationships between judges and political figures. As the legal community watches closely, the ramifications of these claims could have significant implications for the judiciary's integrity.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 27, 2026, 14:09 IST

Justice Kaul's Diwali Party Attendance Raises Questions

In New Delhi, senior advocate and former Rajya Sabha MP Mahesh Jethmalani has raised several questions regarding the recent claims made by retired Supreme Court Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul. Jethmalani has expressed concerns about Justice Kaul's alleged connections with Saurav Das, a leader of the Cockroach Public Party, and the circumstances surrounding the appointment of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. He has also highlighted the ongoing Special Investigation Review (SIR) related to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, suggesting potential conflicts of interest.

Justice Kaul recently made serious allegations against former Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud in an interview, claiming that discussions regarding proposed names for judicial appointments were held with the government before formal decisions were made by the collegium. Responding to these claims, Jethmalani took to social media to assert that judicial independence is a constitutional principle. He criticized the notion that a retired Supreme Court judge could claim to have worked independently during their tenure.

Jethmalani also expressed skepticism about the timing of Justice Kaul's memoirs and their public release, questioning whether these memoirs could influence pending judicial proceedings. He emphasized the importance of the timing of these comments, particularly in light of ongoing hearings related to the validity of processes initiated by the Election Commission.

The senior advocate alleged that certain political groups are attempting to exert pressure on the judiciary regarding the SIR process. He claimed that the removal of alleged fraudulent voters from the electoral rolls has angered leftist and radical Islamist groups, and he mentioned the Congress and opposition coalition INDIA bloc in this context.

Jethmalani accused these groups of trying to influence judicial processes, although he did not provide independent verification for his claims. He also referenced Justice Kaul's attendance at Saurav Das's Diwali party last year, describing it as a surprising event. He noted that shortly after this gathering, Justice Chandrachud made a critical personal remark about Justice Kaul in an article published in the magazine 'Caravan.'

According to Jethmalani, this article had previously appeared in 2019 when Justice Kaul was promoted to the Supreme Court. He raised questions about the nature of the relationship between Justice Kaul and Saurav Das, suggesting that it is natural to question their connections given the circumstances surrounding the SIR and the Chief Election Commission.

Jethmalani posed two significant questions regarding Justice Kaul's statements: first, whether they indicate that members of the judiciary are being signaled regarding the validity of the SIR and the legal status of ongoing cases against the government; and second, whether any former Supreme Court judge is attempting to influence the outcomes of important cases pending in the Supreme Court.