Judge Facing Death Threats in India After 'Cow Vigilante' Convictions

Tabassum Khan, an additional district and sessions judge in Madhya Pradesh, was sentenced on 12 June to 14 men for murder, rioting and wrongful restraint in a 2022 lynching that followed a cattle‑smuggling raid. The men, who called themselves gau rakshaks (cow protectors), violently assaulted a 50‑year‑old Muslim man and two companions, leading to the victim’s death.

The ruling was hailed by many legal observers as a triumph of justice, but it sparked a wave of hate. Online videos propagating religious slurs and death threats against Khan intensified within hours of the verdict. Broadcasters, right‑wing activists and cow‑praise groups circulated footage that framed Khan’s decision as an affront to Hindu values, refusing to view her as a professional judge.

In one clip, a man warned of widespread "bloodshed" if the convicted men were not released within ten days. An anchor of Sudarshan News echoed the sentiment, urging viewers to "fight for the defenders of cows." Concurrently, protesters from the Gau Raksha Parishad and Rashtriya Bajrang Dal staged demonstrations that included effigy burning and demands for the men’s release.

Tabassum Khan – subject of online abuse.

The backlash also forced a legal response. The police arrested two suspects for circulating inflammatory content and are tracking further offenders via a cyber unit. The Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered the removal of threats, extended Khan’s police protection and requested the state to arrange security measures. Judicial bodies such as the Supreme Court Advocates‑on‑Record Association and the Supreme Court Bar Association publicly condemned the violence and called for action.

Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju warned that the campaign aimed at delegitimising Kerr’s authority by reducing her role to her religion could set a dangerous precedent. He emphasized that judicial decisions should judge legal reasoning, not personal identity.

Judge Khan’s experience highlights how judges in India can become entangled in the nation’s heated political discourse. As complaints continue to echo across the internet, the case underscores the need for robust protection of all members of the judiciary to preserve the integrity of India's democratic system.