SC takes suo motu cognisance of brutal assault on woman advocate, directs compensation

Taking suo motu action in the matter, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also asked the investigating officer to look into the aspect of three hospitals refusing admission to the victim.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of a brutal assault on a woman advocate allegedly by her husband and his family members. It also directed the Delhi police Commissioner to hand over investigation in the case to a senior woman police officer in the rank of Assistant or Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Acting on a letter by advocate Sneha Kalita, a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, also ordered the National Legal Services Authority, through its Member Secretary, to release an interim sum of Rs 3 lakh in favour of the victim.

Kalita sent a letter to the CJI seeking urgent intervention of the court in the case of brutal assault on the woman advocate, a mother of three daughters, including for the grant of compensation. She also sought a direction for the arrest of the accused and filing of a status report by the police.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati for the police informed the court that an FIR has been registered at Police Station Khajuri Khas, Delhi (North East). The husband of the victim, who was alleged to be the prime accused, has been arrested on the intervening night of April 25-26, 2026.

The complaint also contained allegations against the in-laws of the victim, but they were stated to be absconding.

The court was informed that after the attack on the victim, her in-laws took away two minor girl children (aged 4 years and 1 year) with them, and their whereabouts are unknown. The eldest girl child (aged 12 years) was allegedly abandoned outside the house by the accused husband, and she was recovered by the police subsequently. She is now under the care and custody of her maternal grandparents and other maternal family members.

"Conscious of the rights which a suspect/accused possesses regarding a fair and dispassionate investigation and also to ensure that no one involved goes scot-free, and keeping in view the other mitigating circumstances'', the bench directed the police authorities to find out the whereabouts of the two minor girl children.

"If they are being well taken care of and looked after by their paternal grandmother, the current arrangement can continue till appropriate directions are issued on the next date of hearing,'' the bench said.

The court also directed the police authorities to look into the allegation that the victim, finally admitted to Trauma Centre, AIIMS, New Delhi at 6 am on April 23, 2026, was refused admission by GTB Hospital, Kailash Deepak Hospital, and R K Hospital.

The court posted the matter for consideration on May 11, 2026.