Ads Alleging 'Conspiracy' Against Ram Rahim Boomerang: P&H High Court Hauls Up Dera, The Hindu, Dainik Bhaskar For Criminal Contempt

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of criminal contempt over a front-page advertisement, "What is Dera Sacha Sauda? (Facts vs Fiction)", published in The Hindu and Dainik Bhaskar on 12 September 2026. Justice Subhas Mehla held that paid narratives insinuating a judicial conspiracy against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, while appeals are pending, obstruct justice. A division bench issued notice to Dera Sacha Sauda and both newspapers, listing the matter for 25 November.

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The Punjab & Haryana High Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognizance of criminal contempt over a front-page advertisement titled "What is Dera Sacha Sauda? (Facts vs Fiction)", published in The Hindu and Dainik Bhaskar. Notice has been issued to Dera Sacha Sauda and to the publishers and editors-in-chief of both newspapers.

The matter was listed before a division bench of Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj and Justice Ravinder Malik, which adjourned it to 25 November.

The Advertisement Under Scanner

The advertisement appeared on the front page of both newspapers' editions dated 12 September 2026. It carried a sub-heading asking, "Was there a conspiracy against Guru Ji?" Copies were placed on record as Annexures A-1 and A-2.

Single Judge Takes First Note

Justice Subhas Mehla had first taken note of the advertisements on 16 September and initiated contempt. Notices were made returnable for 7 October, and the case was then listed before the division bench as per roster.

Justice Mehla observed that issuing public appeals and paid narratives to suggest that courts are part of a conspiracy against a convict or accused, here Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, while appeals and trials are pending, is an attempt to mobilise public opinion and influence the judicial process. This, he said, directly obstructs the administration of justice.

'Scandalize' The Court: Prima Facie View

On a prima facie view, the Court held that the contents may have the tendency to scandalize or lower the authority of the Court, or to interfere with or obstruct the due course of judicial proceedings. It said the allegations must be examined under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, particularly Section 2(c).

Reiterating that it is a court of record, the High Court noted its constitutional power under Article 215 to punish for contempt of itself. Section 15(1) of the 1971 Act, it added, permits cognizance of criminal contempt on the court's own motion. It accordingly acted under Article 215 read with Sections 2(c)(i), 2(c)(iii) and 15(1).

Notices And Next Steps

Notice has been issued to Dera Sacha Sauda through its Management, and to the publisher and editor-in-chief of each newspaper. The Registry has been directed to send the notices along with copies of the annexures. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Chandigarh, has been asked to help the Registry obtain the contemnors' details forthwith.

Case Title: In Re: Suo motu contempt proceedings against publication of scandalous and contemptuous material intended to scandalize the Court and obstruct the administration of justice