New Delhi, Jul 16 The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to transfer to the Crime Branch the investigation in connection with the alleged assault on an advocate in the national capital.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said after taking note of injury on a vital part of body, it seems an offence of attempt to murder be ought to be there in the FIR.
"Thus we direct that section 109 and 118 of BNS be added. Since there are allegations concerning probe by local police, we direct commissioner of police to transfer the case to crime branch," the bench said.
While section 109 deals with attempt to murder, 118 deals with voluntarily causing hurt.
The top court had earlier sought status report on the investigation and directed that there be no threat to the life and liberty of the advocate, Pankaj Sharma.
Senior advocate Vikas Singh had said Sharma, who is the member of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), was allegedly beaten up by assailants in his house on July 11 and got eight stitches on his head.
Sharma lodged an FIR pertaining to house trespass and hurt with the police but the next day the assailants returned and and threatened him, Singh said, adding if this can happen with a Supreme Court lawyer, how will common citizens be safe in the country.
"The petitioner is filing the instant writ petition as despite him having being brutally attacked on July 11, 2026, resulting in grievous injuries on his head necessitating as many as eight stitches on his head," the writ petition by Sharma submitted.
"The Delhi Police under the influence of the accused, who is close to a local politician, is neither taking suitable action against the culprits nor providing security to the petitioner, though the accused again tried to assault the petitioner and his family members on July 12," the plea stated.
The SCBA had urged the immediate constitution of a high-level probe, transfer of the investigation to an appropriate agency, protection for Sharma and his family, and strict action against those responsible.
