The Supreme Court recently granted anticipatory bail to a man in a criminal case filed by a woman lawyer who had been representing him in his matrimonial dispute before they entered into a personal relationship. .A bench led by Justice BV Nagarathna had earlier berated the woman lawyer and questioned her conduct as an advocate for indulging in an intimate relationship with her client, especially when she was helping him get a divorce. "Why did you get into this mess?" the Court had asked her then while protecting the man from arrest in the interim. .It noted that the two had been in a consensual relationship which later broke down, that neither party intended to marry the other, and that the criminal complaint was unwarranted.The prosecution argued that several coercive steps had already been initiated against the man, working as an IT professional in London, including the issuance of a non-bailable warrant, proclamation proceedings, a lookout circular and even a blue corner notice. The bench however, remained unmoved. In an order passed on January 7, the Court made its earlier interim protection absolute and granted anticipatory bail to the man..Briefs and boundaries: Supreme Court berates woman lawyer for intimate relationship with divorce client.Given that the man is presently residing in London, the Court clarified that the order would protect him if he returns to India for investigation or for any other purpose. It further directed that he should be informed of investigation dates well in advance so that he can make necessary travel arrangements.Since anticipatory bail was being granted, the Court ordered that the lookout notice, blue corner notice and the order declaring the man a proclaimed offender should remain in abeyance.
