Advocate-police fight nearing end

The advocates who met at the Bar Association on the court premises here on Thursday arrived on a conclusion that Metagalli Police Inspector  H M Mahadevappa should apologise to advocate D M Gangadharappa to put an end to the ongoing unrest.

However, there were difference of opinions with a section of the advocates baying for the head of the inspector, not to budge from the earlier demand for his suspension. After much debate, it was eventually decided to ask the officer in question to tender an apology.

Bar Association president C Appaji Gowda who confirmed the decision told Deccan Herald that the decision has been already conveyed to the top brass of the city police. The advocates also waited till 6 pm for the officer, but to no avail. Owing to unavoidable circumstances, the officer could not turn up and hence it was decided to postpone the ‘climax’ to Friday. It was also decided to stress for discarding the chargesheet filed against the advocate at the police station.

It was also a day of relief for the litigants, as the advocates resumed duty from the afternoon. Soon after the meeting, as decided earlier, the advocates decided to attend the court, after three-and-a-half day of boycott starting from Monday.

The Metagalli police had detained advocate Gangadharappa on Sunday last, following a complaint lodged by Vijaya. 

Vijaya is the wife of C Mallaiah, one of the defendants in a civil suit where Gangadharappa is representing plaintiff Syed. The woman had alleged that both Gangadharappa and Syed tried to molest her, besides issuing a murder threat. According to the woman, the duo called her for a mutual understanding (out of court settlement).

However, she refused to accede causing the two to attack her.

This was followed by the detainment of Gangadharappa, who was released on station bail only after the advocates intervened.

When the court resumed on Monday, the advocates decided to stay away in protest of the incident and staged a demonstration. It turned violent next day, with a police man attached to Lakshmipuram police station manhandled by the agitating lawyers.