The Supreme Court on Thursday put a stop to the Haryana Police Special Task Force’s investigation against Delhi advocate Vikram Singh in a murder case, while confirming the interim bail it had granted to him earlier this month. The order came from a bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, along with Justices Prasanna B. Varale and K. Vinod Chandran.
The court made it clear that the investigation would not proceed against Singh himself for now. However, it did not halt the entire probe. A request to transfer the case to the CBI will be considered separately.
Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the arrested lawyer, urged the bench to seek a status report from the CBI before deciding on discharge. He strongly criticised the manner in which the prosecution had handled the case, calling it “atrocious.”
A day earlier, Vikas Singh levelled serious accusations against STF officials, telling the court that Vikram Singh had been tortured in custody.
According to him, the lawyer
— was tied to a pole all night,
— forced to sleep in that condition,
— subjected to third-degree assault,
— threatened that his hair would be cut, and
— actually had his hair cut at the police station.
He also alleged that the police pressured the advocate to “settle” a gang war because he represented certain accused persons. “How can a lawyer settle matters between hardened gangsters?” he asked, warning that such actions pose a threat to every criminal law practitioner.
Vikas Singh further told the bench that even though the Supreme Court had ordered Vikram Singh’s release on November 12, he was freed only on November 13 at 8.30 pm.
Haryana’s counsel rejected the allegation, stating that the bail bond was submitted only the next day and the release was processed immediately thereafter. He also accused the petitioner of making “misleading statements,” adding that the grounds of arrest had been properly supplied and that it was Vikram Singh who initiated WhatsApp communication with the investigating officer.
Arguing against transferring the case to the CBI, the state said the murder investigation was being handled by the STF, and sending the present allegations to the central agency would effectively shift the entire probe.
Chief Justice Gavai, however, responded, “So what is the issue? The CBI will investigate it much better,” and listed the plea for further hearing.
Vikram Singh, enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi since July 2019, had been lodged in Faridabad jail before being granted interim bail. His petition claims he was targeted because he filed an application alleging custodial assault on one of his clients, Jyoti Prakash alias “Baba,” who reportedly sustained a leg fracture in STF custody.
The plea argues that the police sought to “criminalise the petitioner’s professional association with his clients,” undermining the independence of the Bar.
According to the petition:
- He was arrested on October 31 without written grounds of arrest or independent witnesses, violating Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution.
- A Faridabad trial court remanded him to judicial custody on November 1 through a “mechanical and non-speaking order,” without material linking him to the alleged offences.
The Supreme Court has sought further details and will take up the request for a CBI investigation soon. In the meantime, the stay on the probe against Vikram Singh remains in force, and his interim bail stands confirmed.
