Allahabad HC cancels interim bail of lawyer accused of stalking female colleague
Prayagraj, July 21: The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday cancelled the interim bail of a lawyer accused of allegedly stalking and harassing a female lawyer and ordered his immediate remand in judicial custody. Terming his conduct as contempt of court and completely unprofessional, the court directed the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council to investigate his conduct and determine whether he is fit to continue practicing law. A bench headed by Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deswal passed this order on a petition filed by Vijay Singh Chauhan.
A female lawyer practicing in the High Court filed an FIR in the case. She alleged that the accused lawyer had been stalking and harassing her for approximately 11 months. According to the complaint, the accused repeatedly blocked her way, pressured her into an engagement, and sent frequent phone calls and objectionable voice messages. He is also accused of tarnishing the image of a female lawyer, interfering with her professional life, providing misleading information about his identity to the court, and subjecting her to mental and professional harassment.
The court granted the accused interim bail on March 16, 2026. At that time, he tendered an unconditional apology and provided a written assurance that he would not enter the High Court premises or contact the female lawyer through any means without the court’s permission. However, during the hearing, the accused violated this assurance. He first submitted an application directly to the judge’s chamber, seeking permission to enter and practice in the High Court.
The court expressed strong displeasure, stating that if an order needs to be amended, the legal procedure is to file an application through the registry, not directly to the judge’s chamber. The court stated, “Prima facie, this act appears to me to be an attempt to influence and may amount to interference in the administration of justice.”
Furthermore, on the day of the hearing, the accused was found present in court, despite having explicitly assured him that he would not come to court so that the victim would not feel intimidated.
In response, the court said, “Today, the court is surprised to see that the accused appeared in person in court despite the presence of his lawyer. This is a direct violation of the assurances given by him.”
Considering these circumstances to be serious, the High Court immediately revoked the accused’s interim bail and ordered him to be taken into custody and presented before the concerned magistrate and sent to jail. Keeping the victim’s safety in mind, the court also ordered that the personal security provided to her be continued until the trial is completed.
The court also directed that a copy of the order be sent to the Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council, requesting that the accused lawyer’s conduct be investigated and appropriate action be taken in accordance with the law.
