Supreme Court slams new trend of police raiding lawyers, taking accused outside court jurisdiction

The Supreme Court on Wednesday frowned on the recent trend of the police raiding lawyers and taking arrested persons outside the territorial jurisdiction of the local court to prevent them from availing their judicial remedies.

"What is this new trend of raiding lawyers? And taking the accused outside the jurisdiction of the court, under which the police station from where they have arrested falls?" a bench led by CJI NV Ramana observed in a case involving the arrest of former AIADMK minister KT Rajenthrabhalaji.

Balaji was arrested by the Tamil Nadu police on January 5, 2022, in connection with a job scam just when he had moved the SC for anticipatory bail. The bench, which also comprised Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli, took a dim view of the police raids on the ex-minister's lawyers.


"We will order a probe into the conduct of police with advocates," the CJI threatened Tamil Nadu. "People can't go to lawyers? And the uniformed will stamp on the liberty of persons?"

The bench eventually granted bail to the ex-minister with the caveat that he surrenders his passport and cooperates in the investigation and asked the state to submit all facts regarding his arrest in a counter-affidavit.