Lawyer gets bail after complainant says 'no objection'
Chandigarh, Sept. 21 -- A local court on Saturday granted bail to advocate Simranjit Singh Blassi, who was arrested on September 17 for allegedly brandishing a sword on the Punjab and Haryana high court complex and assaulting members of the Bar association.
The court granted the bail after the complainant party stated they had no objection to his release.
Following the ruckus in court, Blassi, hailing from Azad Nagar, Ferozepur, and another advocate Ravneet Kaur were booked under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 109 (1) (attempt to murder), 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 351(2) (criminal intimidation) and 3(5) (common intention). Blassi was subsequently arrested. Kaur has not been arrested so far.
A senior criminal lawyer, requesting anonymity, noted that bail was typically not granted so quickly in serious, non-compoundable offences like this. The lawyer highlighted that the attempt to murder charge was triable by a sessions court, and if a compromise was reached, the high court had the authority to review the matter.
Blassi's counsel said they had filed a bail application challenging the "attempt to murder" section, arguing that the injured person had only a minor cut on his finger. The defence also requested the court to preserve the high court's CCTV footage, claiming that Blassi was also assaulted by other advocates, and a DDR had been registered on his behalf.
The initial complaint was lodged by advocate Palak Dev against both Blassi and Kaur.
According to the FIR, Kaur was allegedly quarrelling with library staff on September 17 when Dev intervened. Blassi, who was with Kaur, allegedly began to argue with Dev while wielding a sword. The altercation continued later outside a courtroom where Kaur's matter was being heard. Dev alleged that Blassi threatened to kill them, but another advocate, Sutikshan Sharma, intervened and was injured on his arm and finger in the process.
The lawyers had also observed a one-day strike on Thursday. But they called off their strike after a meeting with the chief justice and registration of a criminal case against Kaur and Blassi. Their licences have also been suspended by the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana....
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