The family of retired Bombay high court judge GS Patel has faced threats and actual acts of violence for 10 months, connected to his 2024 judgment on the Dawoodi Bohra community succession issue.
Justice Patel's daughter in London received an anonymous letter threatening her and her family, with a demand to recant his judgment in a YouTube video, an unprecedented move in Indian legal history.
The threats began in August last year, with letters sent to the Patel family in Mumbai and London, claiming responsibility for a break-in and assault on Justice Patel's daughter.
Justice Patel has written to the Indian High Commissioner in London and the acting chief justice of the Bombay high court, and has also apprised the Chief Justice of India of the matter.
The alleged campaign of threats and violence arises from Justice Patel's 2024 judgment affirming Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin as the rightful 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohra community.
Justice Patel says an appeal is the legitimate way to challenge his judgment, and that the threats issued to him and his family have been carefully calibrated to take advantage of the jurisdictional divide between India and the UK.
