Mangaluru: There was a commotion between Kadri Police Inspector Nagaraj and a young advocate in the inspector’s chamber at the Kadri Police Station here, on July 31.
Speaking to mangalorean.com, Inspector Nagaraj said, “I was investigating a fraud case related to Blade company. While I was questioning, advocate Utham was not allowing his client to speak to me. When I asked Utham to allow his client to speak, the advocate did not allow. Instead, he said that he is his lawyer and has the right to speak on his behalf.”
“As the time was 1:55 pm and it was late for lunch, I requested the representative from the company in question to come at 5 pm. But his advocate refused and said that since “Ratnakar (the client) is here, take his statemen”. When I again requested him to come to the station in the evening, the advocate stood near my table. I opened the door and asked him to leave but the advocate shut the door and refused to go out. There was a verbal exchange and he assaulted me. The police who were on duty saw it and took him into custody immediately,” he said.
Later, a protest was staged outside the station premises by many advocates, including district Bar Council president S P Chengappa, demanding the immediate suspension of Inspector Nagaraj.
Speaking to mangalorean.com, S P Chengappa said that the Inspector of Kadri Police Station assaulted the young advocate and had caused injury to him in the abdomen. He said, “We have admitted him to the hospital. We demand the Commissioner to suspend Police Inspector Nagaraj and three other police constables who were involved in the assault.”
Chengappa also said, “Until an FIR is not filed, we will not move from the station premises.” The advocates shouted slogans against the inspector. “We are protesting against the assault on advocate Utham Rai. The Bar Council condemns the act of the police inspector. Nagraj should be suspended and action should be taken against him. If an advocate is assaulted in such a way, what about the common man?” Chengappa questioned.
Addressing the protesters, President of the State Bar Council P P Hegde said, “When I was in Bengaluru, I got a call from Mangaluru that a young advocate has been assaulted in a police station by Inspector Nagaraj. Advocates going to the police station along with their clients is common. But in Kadri station, when our advocate Utham Rai went along with his client to the station, the inspector assaulted him. The state bar council condemns this act because in Karnataka, Mangaluru advocates are the most decent and respectful and we are model advocates to other districts and states. We are hurt by the attitude of the Inspector. There are various complaints filed against him but he is still in the Kadri Police Station.”
“When I met MLA J R Lobo who was also on the same flight that I came in, I briefed him about the problem and asked him why he had appointed such an irresponsible, arrogant and corrupt inspector in his constituency. Lobo replied that it was a mistake to appoint him to that station.”
Reiterating his previous statement and stressing on advocate’s rights, P P Hegde said, “An advocate has the right to go the station along with his/her client. When our advocate went to the station, he was assaulted by the Inspector. This is not a question of just Mangaluru advocates as it affects the entire state. We will inform the state lawyers regarding the assault on the advocate. Any lockup offences and police station offences are serious matters. When a police personnel makes a station a criminal hub and misuses his uniform, he/she should be severely punished.”
He urged all the advocates to record the entire incident and use it for investigation. “The advocate has been manhandled in the station. The inspector should be suspended and action should be taken against him. Police should file an FIR against the inspector, because he has treated the advocate as a criminal and put him behind bars. If the police will fail to file an FIR against the inspector, we will intensify our protest,” he added.
DCP of Law and Order Shantharaj arrived at the spot and assured the protesting advocates that action would be taken against the police inspector and the constables involved. On the demand of protesters, Police Commissioner issued a suspension order against Police Inspector Nagaraj.
dvocate has the right to go the station along with his/her client. When our advocate went to the station, he was assaulted by the Inspector. This is not a question of the Mangaluru advocates as it affects the entire state. We will inform the state lawyers regarding the assault on the advocate. Any lockup offences and police station offences are serious matters. When a police personnel makes a station a criminal hub and misuses his uniform, he/she should be severely punished.”
He urged all the advocates to record the entire incident and use it for investigation. “The advocate has been manhandled in the station. The inspector should be suspended and action should be taken against him. Police should file an FIR against the Inspector, because he has treated the advocate as a criminal and put him behind bars. If the police will fail to file an FIR against the Inspector, we will intensify our protest,” he added.
DCP of Law and Order Shantharaj arrived at the spot and assured the protesting advocates that action would be taken against the police inspector and the constables involved. On the demand of protesters, Police Commissioner issued a suspension order against Police Inspector Nagaraj.
The CCTV footage can tell a clear story. As the altercation has occurred inside the station – the video should be considered as evidence and this should set a precedent for any future incidences.
Both the lawyers and the police should look at evidence and that is CCTV coverage. If cell phone or mobile recording was done even that can serve as the evidence.
Indian Police have a long way to go. The whole system allows for this archaic way of dealing .