Supreme Court directs lawyers to Delhi High Court for BCI protest attack probe

The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed young lawyers to approach the Delhi High Court with a petition seeking an independent investigation into an alleged mob attack against them during a peaceful protest at the Bar Council of India premises on August 21. The petitioners, represented by advocate Prashant Bhushan, claim they were physically assaulted, dragged, and forcibly removed from the BCI premises during a sit-in demanding the resignation of chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra. The petition notes the attack occurred under CCTV surveillance and in the presence of Delhi Police personnel who did not intervene. The Supreme Court bench suggested the High Court was a more opportune forum for the plea, which also sought a CBI probe. Bhushan alleged Mishra had referred to the protesters as "legal cockroaches," while the bench noted lawyers remain a disciplined community with multiple grievance fora.