Darbhanga: A dramatic turn of events unfolded in the Darbhanga Civil Court on Friday as senior criminal lawyer Amber Imam Hashmi was arrested from inside the courtroom on the orders of Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADJ-III) Suman Kumar Diwakar. The arrest, related to a decades-old triple murder case, has sparked a wave of protest among the local legal fraternity.
Hashmi, a prominent figure in criminal law circles, was taken into judicial custody after he allegedly misled the court about his whereabouts. According to court sources, the lawyer had filed Form 117 earlier in the day, claiming to be out of the district to avoid appearing in a case. However, he was later spotted arguing another matter in the same court.
This apparent contradiction led ADJ Diwakar to question Hashmi’s conduct in open court.
Hashmi is one of the accused in a 32-year-old triple murder case, in which he and his two brothers face serious charges. The case, long pending, resurfaced dramatically with Friday’s events.
The arrest triggered widespread anger among lawyers practicing at the Darbhanga Civil Court. Many accused the court of acting in an unprecedented and unjust manner. In protest, members of the bar announced a boycott of judicial work, demanding Hashmi’s unconditional release.
“This association was formed in 1906. Since then, no lawyer has been treated so unjustly. This is the first time a sitting judge has taken such action against a practising advocate. Until our colleague is released, we will remain away from all court proceedings,” said senior advocate Rajiv Ranjan Thakur.
Judge Diwakar, who ordered Hashmi’s arrest, had recently drawn attention for his decision to convict and sentence BJP MLA Mishri Lal Yadav to two years’ imprisonment, leading to the legislator’s disqualification from the assembly.
