As per a report by MediaNama, the Press Information Bureau's Home Affairs account said the "unconditional apology" in the affidavits filed by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and other officials was a procedural requirement: "Whenever a contempt notice is issued by the Honourable Supreme Court, it is required that the party responding to the notice must begin their affidavit with an unconditional apology." It added that "all actions taken by the Government and the Police are fully compliant with the law, and no case of contempt is made out."

The contempt plea, filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, alleges that authorities kept closing Delhi Metro stations and restricting train services on October 10 despite the Supreme Court's October 9 directions in M.A. Baby v. Union of India. Bar & Bench reports that on October 11 a bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana held that "the petitioners have made out a prima facie case" and issued notice to the Home Secretary, the Delhi Police Commissioner and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation chairperson. LiveLaw reports that the Home Secretary's affidavit defended a 24-hour suspension of cellular internet within a 4 km radius of Raisina Hill, from 10 pm on October 9 to 10 pm on October 10, saying the request "was duly processed and considered in accordance with law and was found to be a proportionate measure." MediaNama reports that on October 10 around 1 pm a reporter found no mobile internet at ITO, about 5 km from Jantar Mantar; that was before the Court said on October 11 that internet facilities should "function unhindered."