In an emergency evening hearing at 7:00 P.M., a division bench of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench, comprising Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla, took up an urgent application concerning the physical assault, intimidation, and obstruction of Delhi-based advocates and their client within the Lucknow District Court premises. Addressing allegations that lawyers were violently prevented from appearing in court and filing a Vakalatnama against a local advocate, the High Court dispensed with procedural technicalities in public interest, ordered immediate police protection for the victimized advocates, and directed the Lucknow District Judge and the Commissioner of Police to submit detailed reports and CCTV footage.
Background of the Dispute
The incident stems from an ongoing civil land dispute. According to the application, the plaintiffs initially filed a suit for declaration of title and injunction against one Riyazuddin regarding a suit property. During the pendency of that original suit, Advocate Saurabh Kumar Verma appeared as counsel for Riyazuddin, and the property was subsequently transferred by Riyazuddin in favor of Advocate Saurabh Kumar Verma.
Thereafter, the plaintiffs filed a second suit, bearing Suit No. 2933 of 2025 (Mohd. Shakir Vs. Saurabh Verma), arraying Advocate Saurabh Kumar Verma as defendant No. 1 along with others. Although a temporary injunction was initially granted in favor of the plaintiffs, it was vacated in January 2026 without any authorization from the plaintiffs, and an appeal filed in their name before the High Court was dismissed.
Due to the clout wielded by Advocate Saurabh Kumar Verma and his accomplices, no local counsel was willing to represent the plaintiffs in Suit No. 2933 of 2025. Consequently, the plaintiffs engaged advocates practicing primarily in Delhi—Ms. Abhipsa Mohanty, Ms. Komal Agarwal, and Mr. Ashutosh Srivastava—to file their Vakalatnama. Additionally, an earlier incident on April 30, 2026, involving the manhandling of another plaintiff, Asif, had been reported to the Joint Commissioner of Police heading a special cell, after police at Station House Officer Wazirganj refused to register an FIR without a witness.
Sequence of Events in the District Court
On July 21, 2026, the Delhi-based advocates arrived at the Lucknow District Court to file their Vakalatnama in Suit No. 2933 of 2025, which was listed before the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) Ms. Neha Gangwar. As the court was vacant, the matter was designated to be taken up in Court No. 41 upon an urgency being mentioned.
A district court official named Gyan instructed the advocates to call the plaintiff himself to verify execution of the fresh Vakalatnama and requested his Aadhar card. Upon being called by his lawyers, plaintiff No. 1, Mohd. Shakir, arrived at the court premises.
Advocate Saurabh Kumar Verma and his associates then intercepted the applicants and prevented them from entering the court. Advocate Saurabh Kumar Verma and his associates physically assaulted the lawyers and brutally beat plaintiff Mohd. Shakir. The perpetrators pushed the plaintiff toward the corridor, continuously assaulting him while shouting, “vakil ke against case karega tu”.
When the applicants intervened to protect their client, Advocate Ashutosh Srivastava was punched in the stomach and chest. The applicants fled toward the chamber of the Judge of Court No. 41. As they attempted to leave the floor to mention the matter before the District Judge, Advocate Saurabh Kumar Verma howled at them, exhorted his female associates to assault them, and threatened Advocate Ashutosh Srivastava by saying, “tum mere against kaise case le liye” and “tum isme mat pado warna acha nahi hoga”. The plaintiff, Mohd. Shakir, was thrashed to the extent that he was bleeding profusely, forcing the lawyers to flee down the staircase.
Court’s Analysis and Observations
During the proceedings, a video was played in person by the applicant-advocates showing individuals, including Advocate Saurabh Kumar Verma, beating plaintiff Mohd. Shakir. Advocate Ashutosh Srivastava informed the bench that there are at least three criminal cases pending against Advocate Saurabh Kumar Verma, who appears to be an office bearer of the Central Bar Association, Lucknow.
Examining the situation, the High Court observed that “if the incident as is alleged has happened, which prima facie appears to have happened based on the video played before us and the statements of the advocates before us then it is very serious matter.”
The Court noted that this was not an isolated occurrence in the District Court at Lucknow. Similar repeated incidents had previously compelled the High Court to take cognizance under connected proceedings, including Public Interest Litigation No. 32524 of 2018, and to constitute a dedicated Cell within the Police Commissionerate, Lucknow, specifically to inquire into illegal activities such as land grabbing, house grabbing, and judicial interference by individuals claiming to be advocates. The bench emphasized that the present matter involves both the commission of an offense and direct interference in the dispensation of justice.
The Commissioner of Police, Lucknow, Shri Amrendra Kumar Sengar (I.P.S.), joined via video conferencing and informed the Court that plaintiff Mohd. Shakir had been sent for medical examination, his version recorded, and that a counter-application had been submitted by one Harshit Pandey. The District Judge and the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Lucknow also joined via video conferencing, with the District Judge confirming that he had reviewed CCTV footage and identified several advocates participating in the assault.
Decision and Court Directions
The High Court issued the following explicit directions:
- Security Measures: The Police Commissionerate, Lucknow, must immediately provide adequate security to applicant-advocates Ms. Abhipsa Mohanty, Ms. Komal Agarwal, and Mr. Ashutosh Srivastava during their stay in Lucknow. The Senior Registrar of the High Court is directed to facilitate their entry and appearance before the court.
- Production of the Victim: The police are ordered to produce plaintiff No. 1, Mohd. Shakir, before the High Court at 10:15 A.M. on July 22, 2026.
- Reports and CCTV Evidence: The District Judge, Lucknow, is directed to submit a complete report alongside a copy of the CCTV footage through a deputed responsible non-judicial officer of the District Court.
- Police Investigation: The Commissioner of Police, Lucknow, is ordered to submit a report and gather information through the Joint Commissioner of Police Cell regarding the antecedents of Advocate Saurabh Kumar Verma, Advocate Abhay Pratap Verma, Harshit Pandey, and any other involved individuals.
- Personal Appearances: The Deputy Commissioner of Police concerned and the S.H.O. of Police Station Wazirganj must be personally present before the High Court, while the Commissioner of Police, Lucknow, shall join via video conferencing.
The Court indicated that it will consider the prayer for transferring Suit No. 2933 of 2025 out of the Lucknow district at an appropriate stage.
Case Title: Anil Kumar Khanna Versus State of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home Lko. and others (Along with connected matters)
Case No.: Criminal Misc. Writ Petition No. 8810 of 2023 (IA/8/2026)
Bench: Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla
Date: July 21, 2026
