RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Feb.24: A man having a dispute with his wife landed in fresh trouble after he lost his cool and indulged in a fight with an advocate.
The reason behind losing his cool was the use of abusive language by his wife’s advocate Pawan Khatri, who is the joint administrative secretary of the Ranchi District Bar Association and a suspect of opening fire in the civil court campus during the last bar elections.
The man who landed in trouble is GST inspector Gaurav Sinha, a native of Muzaffarpur in Bihar posted in Chennai. The trouble started on Wednesday after he came out from the chamber of additional judge A.K.Pandey on the first floor of Forty Court Building after mediation with his wife Shagun, a resident of Ashok Nagar, a posh locality of the Jharkhand capital.
Khatri allegedly used abusive language for Sinha, who allegedly reacted and in a fit of rage slapped Khatri. In response to the action, Khatri retaliated and raised alarm calling other advocates for his support.
Advocates expressing their solidarity with their organization office bearers beat Sinha black and blue. The situation became so critical in the civil court premises that police had to come to the rescue of Sinha and saved him from mob lynching attempts. He was taken to Sadar hospital for treatment. From there he was referred to RIMS for better treatment.
Two FIRs were registered at Kotwali police station after the incident. One FIR was registered based on the information given by Khatri, who apart from levelling allegations of attack also alleged Sinha of snatching his gold chain and Rs 10,000 cash. Another FIR was registered based on the information given by Sinha.
The advocates to mount pressure on police today abstained from judicial work and demanded protection for them in the court premises. They also took out a protest march from the court campus to Albert Ekka Chowk to mark their protest against the incident.
Officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station Shailesh Prasad confirmed the incident saying the proper investigation is going on in the matter.
“Primary investigation suggests that it was Sinha who provoked Khatri though so far it could not be clear what were the provocative words. So far no one has been arrested in the connection and any action will be taken only after proper inquiry,” OC Prasad said.
Gaurav Sinha could not be contacted for his comment. Father of Sinha, K.C. Sinha, presented a different story. He said if bodyguards of the magistrate had not come to the rescue of his son, advocates would have killed the latter.
“Advocate Khatri used abusive language and slapped. When he objected, he was beaten by a section of lawyers. Even police at TOP in the court campus failed to help him. Finally, when my son managed to reach before some bodyguards of magistrates, they helped him,” Sinha said.
A section of advocates requesting anonymity said that Khatri has poor interpersonal skills and he often invites such situations.
“Once Khatri had also dealt with the former treasurer of bar association Amar Kumar. Though inquiry is still pending a complaint against him is also pending before Jharkhand Bar Council in which it was alleged that he had opened fire in the court campus,” one of the advocates said.
Another advocate supported the fact saying a thorough probe is required in the matter. “Thorough probe in the matter is required as such incidents tarnish the image of the bar and raise concern over the security of clients also,” the advocate, who did not wish to be identified, said.
