Mumbai: Several Attorneys Go On Strike, Allege Police Official Beat One Of Their Colleagues

Mumbai, 16th March 2023: After one of their colleagues was allegedly beaten by an officer inside a police station, hundreds of attorneys at the Metropolitan Magistrate court in Mumbai’s Borivali district went on strike on Thursday, an official said.

A lawyer called Prithviraj Zhala was allegedly beaten on Tuesday at the Kandivli police station, where he had gone with a client, as a result of an altercation with assistant police inspector (API) Anant Gite, according to Rajesh More, head of the court’s bar association.

“Without any justification, API Gite hit our attorney four times and acted in a very haughty manner. We went to the police station that day and requested that the officer be disciplined. We also met with top Mumbai police officials, who assured us that appropriate action will be taken,” added More.

Justifying the protest, More remarked, “Today, we have ceased functioning in the court. No lawyer will take on a case. We want the Advocates Protection Act to be passed as well as API Gite.”

According to a representative, API Gite has been assigned to the DCP Zone XI office until a report on the investigation into the situation is submitted. The Goregaon division’s assistant commissioner of police (ACP) will oversee the investigation.

According to the official, attorney Zhala was wearing casual clothing at the time of the event. A top police official stated that they are looking into the situation.