Condemning the police for registering criminal cases against an advocate, the lawyers of Visakhapatnam Bar Association on Tuesday demanded that the cases booked against J.V.V. Jagdishwara Rao be withdrawn immediately.
The Pendurthi police had registered cases under Sections 402, 406 and 506 of IPC against Mr. Jagdishwara Rao, acting on a complaint filed by one Peela Srinivasa Rao.
According to Visakhapatnam Bar Association general secretary Anuradha Pappu, advocate Jagdishwara Rao was fighting a civil case (property dispute) for his client against Mr. Srinivasa Rao. “Mr. Jagdishwara Rao client is the brother of Mr. Srinivasa Rao. The case is civil in nature and the police have no business in booking a criminal case against the advocate,” she said.
Apex court guideline
Citing the Supreme Court guidelines, the bar association members said the police could not book cases against lawyers and doctors without a detailed inquiry.
“In this case, the police had booked cases based on a complaint filed and we demand the immediate removal of the cases,” she pointed out.
The police had counselled both the parties in the presence of their advocates on April 18 and a copy was submitted to the City Police Commissioner and on April 21, the cases were filed, said Ms. Anuradha.
