Woman Lawyer Approaches Supreme Court Alleging Sexual Assault & Harassment By Gurugram Police Officials; Hearing Tomorrow

A woman advocate has approached the Supreme Court claiming that she was sexually assaulted and beaten by officials of a Gurugram police station when she went there alongwith her client in connection with a matrimonial case.

The matter was listed today before a bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and AG Masih, which asked Senior Advocate Priya Hingorani (appearing for the woman advocate) to produce a copy of the FIR lodged against the woman advocate by the Gurugram police officials.

During the hearing, Hingorani informed the Court that though a copy of the FIR was requested, the same was not supplied by the Investigating Officer. "I need direction of this Hon'ble Court to get the FIR!", she submitted.

The bench however noted that a formal application could be made to the concerned Chief Judicial Magistrate. "Is a lawyer required to get that (a direction from Court)? The Bar is not with you?" posed Justice Masih to Hingorani.

Saying that the Bar is supporting the petitioner, the senior counsel conceded that appropriate application will be moved before the CJM today. Giving time to do the needful, the Court listed the matter tomorrow.

"Which CJM will refuse when battery of lawyers appears?" remarked Justice Mishra in jest. The remark came in the backdrop of multiple lawyers appearing before the Court in support of the petitioner.

When Justice Mishra questioned the same at the outset, Hingorani replied, "they are members of the Bar standing in her support, because she has really [suffered]...". Interjecting her, Justice Masih was heard asking, "will that make any difference?" When Hingorani clarified that she had not called anyone, Justice Masih retorted, "why are they standing? We don't need any exhibits at all".

The petitioner, a practicing advocate and Executive Member of Tis Hazari Bar Association, seeks transfer of cases lodged by and against her qua Gurugram police officials to any independent agency (like CBI) or the Delhi police. She further demands disciplinary action against Gurugram police officials involved in her "illegal detention and manhandling".

As per allegations, on 21.05.2025, she went to Sector 50, Gurugram police station alongwith one of her clients in connection with a matrimonial case. When the client was about to submit a written complaint against his wife, the police officials allegedly obstructed him from doing so and assaulted the petitioner.

The petitioner claims that two male officers at the police station sexually assaulted her, that she was illegally detained, and that she was beaten by lady officers. Allegedly, the police officials also gave the petitioner some liquid to drink, but she refused to consume it.

It is averred that after the incident, the petitioner was taken to a Gurugram hospital but brought back without an MLC (Medico-Legal Certificate) being prepared.

On the next day, the petitioner gave a written complaint at Police Post, Tis Hazari, Delhi, but the same was not acted upon. She also got registered FIRs against the Gurugram police officials at PS Subzi Mandi and PS Women Police Station, Gurugram under Sections 4(2)/74/75/79/ 115(2)/126(2)/351(2)/324(4)/3(5) of BNS. As against this, an FIR was registered at Sector-50, Gurugram police station against her under Sections 121(1), 132, 221, 351(3) of BNS.

Apprehending further harassment, false prosecution and physical harm by the Gurugram police officials, she approached the Supreme Court seeking transfer/clubbing of the 3 FIRs as well as police protection.

"The matter raises serious constitutional issues concerning abuse of state power, gender-based targeting, professional persecution, and the collapse of procedural safeguards", the plea states.

The petitioner avers that during her illegal detention, no arrest memo was provided to her and no intimation was given to her family members or colleagues. As such, there was violation of the guidelines laid down in DK Basu v. State of West Bengal, Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar and Satendra Kumar Antil v. CBI cases. She further submits that the actions of Gurugram police officials amount to a gross violation of her fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19(1)(g), 21 and 22.

The petition is filed through AoR Surya Nath Pandey.

Case Title: AS v. STATE OF HARYANA, W.P.(Crl.) No. 235/2025