Courtroom Chaos in Bhopal: Lawyer, Son of Former MP, Assaulted by Brother-in-Law
High drama unfolded in a district court in Bhopal on Tuesday when a lawyer, who is the son of a former Member of Parliament, was allegedly assaulted right in front of a judge. The attacker, identified as the lawyer's own brother-in-law, reportedly manhandled him, tore the buttons off his coat, and issued threats inside the courtroom, creating a scene of utter chaos.
Details of the Incident and Agitation
The lawyer involved has been identified as Anant Sanjar, the son of former BJP MP Alok Sanjar. According to eyewitness accounts, the scuffle broke out as Anant was escorting a woman client to court. The woman is involved in a case related to alleged cruelty by her husband, who happens to be Vidyut Bhatnagar—Anant's brother-in-law and the alleged attacker.
Vidyut Bhatnagar arrived at the court and started misbehaving with Anant, leading to a physical altercation. The situation quickly escalated, with high drama prevailing in the court complex as a large number of lawyers gathered around the accused, demanding immediate action. The agitation continued for nearly eight hours, highlighting the intensity of the protest.
Police Intervention and Safety Measures
In response to the escalating tensions, a heavy police team reached the court premises. To ensure the safety of the alleged attacker amid the agitated crowd, police whisked him away to a separate room. Meanwhile, the protesting lawyers remained in court, voicing their demands for justice.
Later, around 8 pm, senior officers from three police stations arrived at the spot with reinforcements as tensions spiralled further. According to eyewitnesses, the alleged attacker, Vidyut Bhatnagar, eventually apologised for his conduct. He stated that the matter was a fallout of a family dispute, adding context to the violent episode.
Legal Proceedings and Police Statement
DCP (Zone-2) Vivek Singh addressed the media, stating that a case would be registered once a formal complaint is received. It was learnt that Anant Sanjar did express his intention to lodge a complaint regarding the assault. However, as of the filing of this report, no First Information Report (FIR) had been filed, leaving the legal outcome pending.
The incident underscores the volatile nature of family disputes spilling into public spaces, especially within the solemn environment of a courtroom. The involvement of a lawyer from a political family has added a layer of public interest to the case, drawing attention to issues of safety and decorum in judicial settings.
