SIT formed to probe lawyer-police clash, cop suspended: Police tell Delhi HC

The police on Sunday (November 3) told the Delhi high court that a special investigation team has been formed to investigate the clash between lawyers and police at Tis Hazari court on Saturday. The court asked the police to record statements of the injured advocates and lodge an FIR immediately.

Advocate Rahul Mehra, representing the Delhi Police, told a bench comprising Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar, which was hearing the matter after taking suo motu cognisance of media reports on the incident, that an assistant sub-inspector has been suspended and another transferred for their alleged involvement in the clash.

The police also informed the court that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch will probe the matter and said that four FIRs have been registered in connection with the clash under relevant sections, including charges of attempt to murder.

The high court has directed the city police commissioner to transfer special commissioner Sanjay Singh and additional DCP Harinder Singh, and directed the Delhi government to pay a compensation of ₹50,000 to advocate Vijay Verma and ₹15,000 and ₹10,000 to two other injured advocates.

Lawyers and police had clashed at Tis Hazari Court complex here on Saturday (November 2) afternoon during which at least 20 police personnel and several lawyers were injured while 17 vehicles vandalised, according to officials and eyewitnesses.

Two Station House Officers (SHOs) and an additional commissioner were among the 20 personnel injured, police said and claimed that eight lawyers were hurt in the incident.

Lawyers, however, said more of their colleagues were injured than the number claimed by the police. They also claimed that two advocates were injured in police firing, but police said they fired in the air.

Registrar General (RG) Dinesh Kumar Sharma said a closed-door meeting was held in the morning by the chief justice and senior most judges of the high court. The meeting was also attended by senior police officers and additional chief secretary of the Delhi government, he said.

After the meeting got over, the court decided to hold a hearing at 1 pm, he said. The Bar Council of India has written a letter to the high court seeking a direction to the Delhi lieutenant governor and other authorities to lodge an FIR under Section 307 (attempt to murder) and other relevant provisions of the Arms Act against the police officials.

The letter also sought the immediate arrest of responsible police officials and initiation of a judicial enquiry by a retired Supreme Court or high court judge.

(With inputs from agencies)