At a Metropolitan court in Mumbai, an appalling incident was reported today (January 3, 2020) where a man pointed out as Omkarnath Pandey launched a metal flute at a judge at the hearing of his brother’s murder trial. The attacker’s brother was murdered in 2017.
Pandey is a senior citizen at age 60 was present at the murder trial who served as a watchman. The event occurred inside the court number 10 of Metropolitan court in Dindoshi.
The hearing was to happen at a later designated time and Pandey entered the courtroom beforehand and in a fit of anger showcasing an act of violence shot a metal flute towards the direction of the judge chanting “Jai Shri Krishna”. As luck would have it, the flute missed target and hit the stenographer who was injured. The attacker was apprehended on the spot and was charged under Section 353 of the Indian Penal Code of 1860 (IPC) condemning the assault of a public servant.
This isn’t the first time such an unfortunate episode has taken place where the accused when not happy with the procedures of the court or the course of things has vent out in such an aggressive manner. In an incident not so far ago, a thief flung a “chappal” (slipper) at a judge on being punished with six months in prison. Following this occurrence, advocates were on strike demanding better security and policing for judges and advocates.
Author: Smriti Arvind
