Chennai: Tension gripped the family court building at Madras HC complex as several lawyers thrashed a few among 17 persons, arrested on charge of raping a 12-year-old hearing impaired girl, on Tuesday.
They laid siege to the court complex at 1 pm and prevented the cops from escorting the accuaed to Puzhal prison from Mahila court until 8 pm.
The subordinate court judges and senior police officers held talks with the advocates till 7.45 pm.
According to sources, the cops were waiting for the situation to improve as the accused were remanded to judicial custody.
On Monday, Ayanavaram police arrested 18 persons including security guards and plumbers on charge of sexually assaulting the minor girl for seven months at an apartment complex in the city. On Tuesday morning the cops took them to the residence of Mahila Court judge (Metropolitan Magistrate-Egmore) at Saidapet.
The judge directed the cops to produce them before District Mahila Court on Madras high court premises. The cops rushed to the complex at 11.30 a.m. After perusing the documents, the judge pointed out some discrepancies and directed them to rectify them. Meanwhile, the cops made the accused to stay outside the Mahila court and over 50 police personnel including women cops provided security cover on the corridor.
As the news spread, a section of advocates, including women lawyers, rushed to the place and waited near the complex.
The Mahila court judge took up the matter at 1.10 pm and remanded all the 17 persons till July 31.
Sensing trouble, the cops divided the accused into two groups and decided to escort eight accused to police van waiting near the gate. As the cops took the accused covered with mask to the second floor, the advocates waiting on the second floor pounced on them and thrashed them severely.
The advocates dragged and assaulted the accused indiscriminately and abused them for raping the minor girl. An accused attired in shorts sustained injuries in the attack. The women cops, who were accompanying the accused, were unable to prevent the advocates from attacking them on the staircase and corridors of the family court complex.
Immediately, they took shelter in the CBI court and additional family court III. The other accused were kept in Mahila court. The video clips of the assault went viral on social media and TV. Advocates prevented people from taking photos and video during the attack.
Additional Commissioner P. H. Jayaraman sent additional police force to the court complex. Subordinate court judges including principal sessions court judge Suba Devi and Jayanthi rushed to the complex at 3.30 pm.
Advocates Kannadasan, Mohanakrishnan, president of Madras High Court Advocate Association, former president of MHAA RC Paul Kanagaraj and Sudha held talks with advocates and senior police officers to solve the issue and permit the cops to escort them to Puzhal prison.
A strong contingent of police force escorted the accused to Puzhal prison and took them through south gate of the Madras high court at7.50 pm.
No lawyer for offenders
Madras High Court Advocates Association (MHAA) has decided not to appear before the trial court on behalf of the accused. President of the MHAA Mohanakrishnan said that the accused have committed heinous crime against the minor girl and they must be punished as soon as possible.
Hence, advocates have decided not to appear on behalf the advocates before the court. "We will also oppose the advocate who wishes to appear before the court on behalf them. Meanwhile, we will also oppose Legal Aid Centre if it deputes any counsel to appear for them. The MHAA will pass a resolution to this effect soon," he said.
Women Lawyers Association president Nalini also said that no advocate from the association will appear for the accused since they committed serious offense against the girl.
