The Bar Council of India has placed advocate Deepak Tyagi under interim suspension for allegedly misbehaving with retired Justice Talwant Singh, the returning officer of the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) elections.

As per the allegations, on the polling day, Justice Singh was proceeding towards the entry gate of the Delhi High Court after receiving complaints regarding violations of the Model Code of Conduct, when Tyagi attempted to manhandle him and instigated a crowd of lawyers and raised slogans against the election machinery.

"Pending further proceedings, and having regard to the gravity of the allegations, the reported nature of the conduct, the availability of video footage, and the necessity of protecting both the disciplinary process and the election process, Shri Deepak Tyagi, Advocate, has been placed under interim suspension from practice, with immediate effect, subject to consideration by the competent Disciplinary Committee on first listing," the BCI said in a press statement

Tyagi has also been barred from entering or assembling near the counting venue or interfering in any manner with the vote-counting process, scheduled to begin on March 7. Any violation of these directions will be treated as an aggravating act of misconduct, the BCI said.

The action was taken after the BCI received a suo motu complaint from the Special Committee of the BCD regarding the incident.

"Any misbehaviour with, attempted manhandling of, intimidation of, or interference with the Returning Officer or the election process during a statutory Bar election strikes at the dignity of the legal profession and the integrity of the electoral process. Such conduct, if established, would amount to grave professional and other misconduct under the Advocates Act, 1961 and the Bar Council of India Rules," the Bar body said.

[Read BCI Press Release]