JNU row: Mob-leading lawyer Vikram Chauhan felicitated, brags about teaching 'anti-nationals' a lesson

The lawyers' body in Delhi district courts virtually came in defence of the attackers in black robes in the Patiala House courts, including Vikram Singh Chauhan who was garlanded in Karkardooma courts, to whose bar he belongs. Claiming that certain "outsiders" in lawyers' robes indulged in violence, the Coordination Committee of all District Court Bar Associations demanded a "fair" inquiry into the incidents.
Condemning the violence, Advocate R K Wadhwa, chairman of the committee, said in a press release they would request the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court to ensure that entry to the court premises should be monitored and security of judicial officers, lawyers and litigants be given "prime importance".

Vikram Chauhan was adamant in the face of criticism and was quoted saying by ANI: Before being a lawyer, I am an Indian citizen. We won't tolerate nuisance like slogans of "Pak Zindabad".He was also quoted saying by NDTV: "Lawyers are also Indian citizens, how can anyone allow anti-India slogans or pro-Pakistan slogans being raised in India?" Mr Chauhan said, claiming the advent of "a movement (that) has found resonance amongst lawyers across the country".

"We had only objected to anti-India slogans being raised," he told NDTV , denying that he was a participant in yesterday's rioting which included pieces of a flower pot and stones being thrown at senior lawyers rushed over by the Supreme Court to take stock of the chaos at the lower court. "We didn't heckle them, I don't know who did," he said and added that "there were some people dressed as lawyers against who we have complained."

"We condemn the manner in which protestors/demonstrators were allowed to enter the Patiala House court complex. We condemn violence in any form which was the direct consequence of unverified entry of outsiders inside the court premises," he said.

Meanwhile in Karkardooma courts, lawyers held a candle light march for national integrity and against "victimisation" of lawyers. Chauhan, who has been bragging on social media about how the lawyers had taught "anti-nationals" a lesson in Patiala House complex, was garlanded.

However, Advocate Mahesh Sharma, President of Shahdara Bar Association, rejected media reports in this regard.

"Advocates are being shown in bad light. They are termed as goons and criminals. It is wrong," Sharma said. Chauhan, who was caught on camera assaulting journalists and others in the court premises, was one of the three lawyers summoned by the delhi police in connection with the February 15 attack. The three lawyers, however, did not appear before the police. The coordination committee also said they would stage a protest march at India gate tomorrow against the alleged anti -national activities at the JNU complex. 

Bar Council promises action 

The Bar Council of India has decided to crack the whip on the group of unruly lawyers who indulged in violence at the Patiala House Court complex here, saying the licences of those found guilty will be suspended for life.

Apologising for the violence in the court premises on Wednesday which had occurred for a second time in a row ahead of the hearing of JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar's sedition case, BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra said names of the bar members, if found guilty of indulging in this violence, will be removed from the roll.

"I seek apology from mediapersons and that boy Kanhaiya Kumar for such mishappenings and misconduct. Strong action will be taken against lawyers, if found guilty of indulging in violence at Patiala House Court. The action includes suspension of their licence for their entire life. Therefore, we can remove name of any of the advocates from the roll of Bar Council for whole life," Mishra said.

The apex law body has set up a three-member committee, headed by a former High Court judge, to probe the incidents of February 15 and 17 at the Patiala Court where a group of lawyers attacked Kanhaiya and thrashed students, media persons as well as a team of senior advocates constituted by the Supreme Court which had gone there to take a stock of the situation.

"We have made a special request to the committee to submit its report and complete its proceedings within three weeks from today and we hope that soon after receiving the report of inquiry committee, we will take a strong action against the guilty," he said.

He said BCI has taken a serious view of the incidents and termed it "shameful" and added "handful of lawyers have done this."

​Delhi Police register fresh cases

 Under attack for the alleged inaction during violence at the Patiala House court complex, Delhi Police has registered two fresh cases against "unknown persons" who carried out brazen attacks on journalists, a lawyer and JNU students' union leader Kanhaiya Kumar. While the first FIR, registered at Tilak Marg police station, is based on a complaint filed by the lawyer, who was thrashed by a group of men dressed in black robes, the second case is to probe on Thursday's assault on Kumar, who was produced in the court following end of his police custody, a senior police official said.

"Both the cases were registered against unknown persons late last night under relevant IPC sections. While the first one is based on a complaint received by the police, the second case was registered after taking suo motu cognizance of the matter," the senior official said.

on Thursday, a group of persons dressed in black robes, led by a lawyer Vikram Singh Chauhan, unleashed an attack on journalists and Kumar at the Patiala House Courts complex.
Earlier on Monday, several scribes, activists, teachers and students of JNU were assaulted at the same court premises while a hearing of the sedition case was on in connection with which Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested.
Chauhan was identified as one of the perpetrators in Monday's attack too.

Before Kanhaiya was produced in the court on Thursday, a group of persons dressed in lawyers' robes were seen jostling with another group of lawyers allegedly targeted for speaking in favour of the arrested student leader. One of them was allegedly assaulted, following which the police complaint was lodged. 

With agency inputs