Delhi High Court refuses anticipatory bail to DU law student involved in late-night brawl

The Delhi High Court recently took a dim view of a violent clash that broke out between law students at Delhi University. [Priyam Sharma v. State NCT of Delhi].While denying anticipatory bail to one of the students, Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said,"It is a matter of great concern that the students of law are fighting in such a manner...This court takes such incidents very seriously and is aghast to note that the law students who will in the coming years be occupying the responsible position of the lawyers or the law officers are indulging in such altercations. Such cases may on the face of it seem to be a fight between two groups, but this court is of the view that they require in depth examination and investigation.".The petitioner moved the High Court for anticipatory bail after he was booked for participating in a late-night brawl involving DU law students. As per the prosecution, he was part of a group of students armed with hockey sticks, lathis and iron rods who assaulted the complainant and others.The petitioner's counsel argued that his client had beaten the complainant only using his fists, and that the injuries suffered are simple in nature.He further claimed that this is a false case where the investigation is being influenced by a senior judicial officer who happens to be the uncle of the complainant..However, the Court expressed "extreme disappointment" at the petitioner levelling such allegations against a sitting senior judicial officer."Such kind of allegations without any basis scandalize the entire system of administration of criminal justice," it said..The Court went on to dismiss the petitioner's anticipatory bail application, observing that granting the same would send out a wrong message."This court has time and again condemned the act of such free fights between the group of people. Here again, in the night around 11 p.m., the assaulters including the petitioner assaulted the complainant party with lathi, hockey and danda, I consider that granting anticipatory bail in such cases would certainly give a wrong message...".Advocates Suresh Chandra Sati, Satish Chandra and Naresh Kumar appeared for the petitioner.Assistant Public Prosecutor Raghvinder Verma appeared for the State.Advocates Rakesh Chahar, Shweta Dhingra, Hazel Bhardwaj, Satpal Singh, Harshdeep Kocchar and Vaishali Chaudhary represented the respondent/complainant..[Read Order]