Manhandling of woman lawyer: SC raps police for summoning

The Supreme Court today came down heavily on Delhi Police for summoning those who had witnessed the alleged manhandling of a woman lawyer inside a police station.
A bench comprising justices J S Kehar and C Nagappan also asked the Delhi Police Commissioner to personally "monitor" the case and file an affidavit within two weeks in the court.
"We are not taking sides. You are the Commissioner of Police and the direction to you to see that everything is fair...
"Why all the witnesses of the April 4 incident have been summoned in the police station. Don't brush the things under the carpet as we have reposed faith in you," the court said.

The observations came after senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, who was appointed amicus curiae in the case, sought a CBI probe into the case alleging harassment of witnesses at the hands of police.
"Let there be an independent probe, preferably by the CBI," he said.

"You (police) file a formal reply," the bench said.
Earlier, it had asked the Police Commissioner to provide security to the woman lawyer who was allegedly manhandled by some policemen and others inside Lajpat Nagar police station when she had gone to serve the copy of a judicial order in connection with a property dispute on April 4.

Dealing with the allegation that eyewitnesses of the alleged assault were pressured, the bench had said that Lajpat Nagar police will not summon any witnesses of the case till its next order.
Earlier, a four-judge bench headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha had taken suo motu cognizance of the letter of the woman lawyer alleging that some policemen and others manhandled her inside Lajpat Nagar Police Station.
The advocate had complained she was dragged and beaten by the people owing allegiance to the opposite party when she reached the police station.
The Supreme Court Bar Association has also sought severe action against the erring policemen.