New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India recently took grave exception to the egregious conduct of a Station House Officer (SHO) from Uttar Pradesh, who not only willfully defied the Court’s interim protection order but allegedly arrested and physically assaulted the petitioner.

A bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice NV Anjaria was hearing a contempt petition filed against SHO Gulaab Singh Sonkar of Kandhai Police Station, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh.

The petitioner complained that despite being granted an interim protection order by the Supreme Court on March 28, 2025, the contemnor-SHO, Gulaab Singh Sonkar, allegedly dragged him from his workplace, arrested him, and physically assaulted him on April 23, 2025.

The incident was compounded by the officer’s open defiance of the judicial system. According to the petition, when the petitioner produced a copy of the Supreme Court’s protection order, the SHO abused him and refused to comply, allegedly stating in the vernacular:

“Main kisi Supreme Court ka aadesh nahin manunga, mai tumhara sara High Court aur Supreme Court nikal dunga aaj.” (I will not obey the order of any Supreme Court; I will get your entire High Court and Supreme Court removed today.)

The Supreme Court had previously directed the Uttar Pradesh Home Department to conduct an inquiry into the matter, led by an officer not below the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP). The subsequent inquiry report furnished to the Court confirmed the willful disobedience of the judicial order by the SHO.

The Bench noted the severe implications of the officer's actions. It observed that under the guise of police uniform, the officer could not be allowed to "pollute the stream of justice."

The Court stated that the actions of the officer constituted "willful disobedience of the Order of the Court by the first respondent which requires to be dealt with iron hands."

While the Court was inclined to pass a stern and immediate order against the contemnor-SHO, the Additional Advocate General (AAG) appearing for the Principal Secretary, Department of Home, Government of Uttar Pradesh, intervened.

The AAG acknowledged the findings of the inquiry report and submitted that the State Government would take "immediate action" against the contemnor. An accommodation was sought to apprise the Court of the specific disciplinary measures taken.

Acceding to the State Government's request, the Supreme Court deferred the matter. The Bench directed the re-listing of the contempt petition on November 7, 2025, awaiting the compliance report from the UP Government detailing the action taken against SHO Gulaab Singh Sonkar.