Supreme Court seeks report from Delhi Police on probe into assault on advocate

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Delhi Police to inform it about the status of investigation into a recent assault on a lawyer inside his residence in the national capital.

The Court said that a status report on the investigation be filed by an officer not below the rank of a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana also directed the police to ensure protection of the lawyer's life and liberty.

The direction was passed following an urgent oral mentioning by Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President and Senior Advocate Vikas Singh.

Advocate Pankaj Sharma, a member of the SCBA, was allegedly attacked on July 11 by four persons inside his house and received eight stitches on his head.

According to his petition, the Delhi Police acting under the influence of the accused - stated to be associated with a local politician - was neither taking suitable action against the accused nor providing security to the victim.

As per the plea, the police failed to invoke stringent provisions like Section 109 (attempt to murder) and Sections 117/118(2) (grievous hurt) of the of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

"The action of the police in registering a case of "simple assault" for a critical head injury is arbitrary, biased, and legally unsustainable. Hence the Petitioner beseeches this Hon’ble Court to intervene in the matter and direct the authorities to take suitable action," the plea said.

Vikas Singh, representing Sharma, today told the Court that despite the severity of the wounds, the police watered down the case and did not make any arrests.

"No one has been arrested yet. The FIR merely says trespass. If this happens in Delhi to a Supreme Court lawyer, then what is left?" Singh submitted.

Attorney General R Venkataramani also termed it a "serious matter" and requested the Court to issue immediate notice.

The Court then sought a response from the police.

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