Journalism of Courage
‘Ensure no harm is caused’: Supreme Court seeks Delhi Police report on ‘attack’ on advocate
The Supreme Court has directed that the status report be filed by an officer not below the rank of deputy commissioner of police.
The Supreme Court has ordered a fresh trial for Abdul Hameed after setting aside his conviction and death sentence in the 1996 Rajasthan bus blast (File photo).
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Delhi Police to submit a status report on the alleged attack on an advocate at his home in the Capital earlier this month and reported threats issued to him to withdraw his police complaint against the accused.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana also asked the police to provide the complainant, advocate Pankaj Sharma, security and ensure that no harm is caused to him. Further, the court directed that the status report be filed by an officer not below the rank of deputy commissioner of police.
Appearing for Sharma, senior advocate Vikas Singh said his client had been practising in the SC for over 20 years. He alleged that after Sharma was first assaulted on July 11, he had got an FIR lodged. The next day, however, the assailants had returned and threatened him to withdraw his complaint, Singh submitted before the court.
Sharma’s plea said that the attack resulted in “grievous injuries on his head necessitating 8 stiches” but “the Delhi Police, under the influence of the accused, who is close to a local politician, is neither taking suitable action against the culprits nor providing security to the petitioner, though the accused again tried to assault the petitioner and his family members on 12.7.2026 (July 12).”
Singh said that though Sharma filed a second complaint regarding him receiving threats to withdraw the FIR, no one was arrested.
The plea said, “The inaction and dereliction on the part of Delhi Police is evident from the fact that initially they were not even registering an FIR against the accused and when after much persistence they lodged an FIR, the FIR was lodged merely for simple assault though the petitioner had received grievous injuries on his head which are dangerous to life.”
The police, it added, “Intentionally omitted stringent sections like Section 109 (attempt to murder) or Section 118 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) to shield the culprits”.
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Sharing the concern, Attorney General for India R Venkataramani said, “I join the concerns. Very serious matter. Notice may be issued on the writ.”
The bench then ordered, “Let status report with respect to the ongoing investigation as well as any action taken on the second complaint made by the victim regarding the threat extended to him for withdrawal of the FIR be filed by a police officer not below the rank of DCP. Meanwhile, it should be ensured that no harm is caused to the victim.”
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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