‘Unlikely to flee from justice’: SC orders release of lawyer who claimed ‘illegal arrest’ by Haryana Police

Granting him interim relief, the bench also noted that “in any case, the petitioner is an advocate by profession and as such not likely to flee away from justice.” The court also asked its Registry to communicate the order immediately to the Gurgaon police commissioner.

Singh, a Delhi-based lawyer, was arrested by the STF, Gurgaon, on October 31. On November 1, he was remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody by the Judicial Magistrate, Faridabad. The police had arrested Singh’s client, Jyoti Prakash alias Babu, in connection with the murder of one Suraj Bhan on March 16, 2024.

Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for Singh, told the apex court’s bench that the police were pressuring him to reveal the details of his clients. He contended that the arrest was illegal as no written grounds were furnished to the arrestee.

In the writ petition challenging his arrest, Vikram Singh said that “in the course of his professional duties,” he “has represented several clients in criminal cases between 2021 and 2025, including persons alleged to have connections with…Kapil Sangwan @ “Nandu”.”

He added that “all such representations were undertaken purely in the discharge of his professional obligations and in conformity with the Advocates Act, 1961 and the standards of professional ethics” but “instead of respecting the independence of the Bar, the investigating agency has sought to criminalize the Petitioner’s professional association with his clients, thereby undermining the rule of law and the sanctity of the advocate–client relationship.”

He said that the arrest of Jyoti Prakash “was officially intimated to” him “and acting in his professional capacity as counsel,” he “visited the concerned Police Station twice. Acting on Jyoti Prakash’s instructions,” he also filed an application before the court “highlighting custodial assault and ill-treatment” faced by his client while in the custody of the STF, Gurgaon, “which resulted in a leg fracture, as borne out from judicial orders passed in those proceedings.”

Vikram Singh contended that his “illegal arrest” appeared to be “retaliatory action by the investigating agency” to his “bona fide efforts to bring such custodial misconduct to judicial notice.”