Two law students arrested for hurling abuses in SC, assaulting security staff

New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) Two law students were arrested for allegedly hurling abuses during a Supreme Court hearing of a petition, assaulting a security staff and disrupting proceedings, police said on Wednesday.

Prabal Pratap Singh (24), a third-year law student of Lucknow University from Uttar Pradesh's Etawah, who was appearing as the petitioner-in-person, and Chander Bhan (23), a second-year law student from Raebareli district, were arrested in connection with the incident.

According to police, the incident occurred during the hearing of Special Leave Petition (Civil), Prabal Pratap and Another vs State of Uttar Pradesh through Commissioner inside Court No. 13 of the apex court on July 10.

Police said that Prabal Pratap, appearing as a petitioner-in-person, disrupted the court proceedings by using abusive and unparliamentary language, throwing papers inside the courtroom and creating a commotion.

"When security personnel intervened to maintain decorum and restrain him, he used criminal force against the complainant, obstructing him from performing his official duties," a senior police officer said.

Acting on observations made by the Supreme Court regarding the conduct of the accused, both were taken to the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) for medical examination. Doctors found that neither required any immediate active psychiatric intervention, police said.

During investigation, police recovered pamphlets containing objectionable words from the possession of the accused.

An FIR was registered at Tilak Marg police station under sections 132, 221, 224 and 3(5), on the complaint of a member of the Supreme Court security staff.

Both men were arrested and subsequently remanded to two days police custody for further interrogation. Investigation into the case is in progress, police added. PTI