A murderous attack on a 55-year-old lawyer by his son on the premises of the Madras High Court on Tuesday set the entire campus on panic mode. The use of a sickle to commit the act has raised concerns about security inside the court complex.
The attack incidentally occurred a day after the First Bench of the High Court said that the proposal to extend the Central Industrial Security Force cover to the entire campus is under consideration.
Advocate A. Manimaaran, who occupies chamber No. 219 in the Additional Law Chamber, was attacked by M. Rajesh with a sickle at 1.30 p.m. According to a senior police official, the attack was the result of a family feud. The victim, who sustained serious injuries on his head and face, was immediately rushed to the Government Rajiv Gandhi Hospital for treatment by advocates, where doctors said he was due for surgery. Meanwhile, other lawyers present in the building thrashed and overpowered Rajesh. As Rajesh sustained injuries in the scuffle, he was admitted to the Government Stanley Hospital.Later in the evening, a case was registered in the Esplanade police station against Rajesh under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 294 (b) (Reciting obscene words), 324 (Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), and 307 (Attempt to murder) of IPC. He was then remanded to judicial custody.
Security check bypassed
“The attacker managed to bypass the security check by pretending to be an advocate. He had an advocate’s sticker affixed to his bike, and was wearing a white shirt and black trouser, the usual attire of lawyers in court. Preliminary enquiry revealed that he had passed through the gate near the New ADR building in the premises,” a senior police official said.
