Madhya Pradesh Judge Who Sent 14 Lynching Convicts to Life Imprisonment Receives Death Threats

A serious controversy has emerged in Madhya Pradesh after Additional District and Sessions Judge Tabassum Khan reportedly received online abuse and death threats following her verdict in a 2022 mob lynching case.

According to reports, Judge Khan sentenced 14 men to life imprisonment on June 22 after finding them guilty in the killing of a Muslim truck driver, Nazir Ahmad. The case relates to an incident that took place in August 2022 near Barkhar village in Seoni Malwa, where Ahmad was allegedly attacked by a mob while transporting cattle from Madhya Pradesh to Maharashtra.

In her judgment, the court described the attack as extremely brutal and held that the accused had acted with a common unlawful intention. The court ruled that the group had taken the law into its own hands, resulting in the death of an innocent man. Along with life imprisonment, the convicts were also fined.

Following the verdict, family members of the convicted men and members of some right wing groups reportedly staged protests outside the court and in other parts of the town. According to reports, some protesters attempted to block police vehicles transporting the convicts, while police intervened to control the situation.

The controversy later moved online, where social media posts targeting Judge Tabassum Khan began circulating. Reports claim that abusive and communal remarks were directed at the judge, with some individuals allegedly questioning her verdict based on her religious identity. Videos circulating on social media also reportedly show inflammatory speeches against the judge.

The reports further claim that some individuals issued threats demanding the release of the convicted men within a specified period and allegedly warned of large scale violence if their demands were not met. ChatGPT cannot independently verify the authenticity of all such videos or the individuals involved.

Human rights activists and legal experts have expressed concern over the reported threats, describing them as an attack on judicial independence and the rule of law. They have called for strong action against anyone responsible for issuing threats or attempting to intimidate members of the judiciary.

Several social organisations have also demanded enhanced security for Judge Tabassum Khan and urged authorities to investigate the alleged hate campaign and threatening statements.

At the time of publication, there has been no official confirmation from the Madhya Pradesh government or senior police officials regarding any additional security measures for the judge or any major action taken against those allegedly responsible for the threats.