Law intern molestation case: Patna High Court warns suspended advocate accused not to roam in court premises

The Patna High Court has warned advocate Niranjan Kumar, who stands accused of having attempted to rape a law intern and who was recently suspended by the BCI, not to roam around the court premises [Court on its own motion on the basis of resolution/complaint passed by Coordination Committee v. State]..A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjay Karol was informed on Thursday that advocate Kumar was seen roaming inside the court premises wearing gown and band.The Court cautioned the accused-advocate against repeating such conduct in the future and warned that strict action would be taken against him if he disregards the Court's order.The accused-advocate filed his vakalatnama today. Senior advocate Mrigank Mauli will be representing the accused, the Court was informed. Four weeks time was given to him to file his reply in the suo motu case initiated by the Court in the matter. .Advocate Kumar has been accused of molesting and attempting to rape a 21-year-old second year law student, who is currently pursuing law from Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna. On January 11, the High Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the matter on the basis of a resolution passed by the coordination committee of three bar associations of the High Court i.e. a body of lady advocates of the Patna High Court, the High Court Bar Association, and the Lawyers’ Association. The High Court had also examined an interim report submitted by the fact finding committee constituted by the Bihar State Bar Council. The said report was ordered to be kept in sealed cover by the Court master, the bench had ordered, at the time. Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of CNLU, Patna also requested the Bar Council of India (BCI) to take stern action against the advocate, noting that if such incidents happen, girl students doing their law courses would find themselves helpless while doing internship courses. The BCI had, thereafter, suspended the lawyer..As per the police complaint, the law student had been working as an intern in the office of Kumar since December 1, 2022. On December 23, on the last day of her internship, the advocate allegedly molested her. As per the complaint, he coerced the girl for sexual favours, in the name of ‘Guru Dakshina’ and also tried to rape her in his chamber.The law student had raised an alarm and called the police control room, after which the lawyer was arrested. A first information report (FIR) has been lodged for attempt to rape and various other provisions under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).Earlier, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Prahalad Kumar had granted bail to advocate Kumar on December 24.