Cops-lawyers spat: Odisha HC defers hearing once again as CB seeks time

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court today deferred the hearing over the case of alleged assault of a lawyer by police personnel to November 15 as the State Crime Branch sought more time to submit a complete chargesheet in this regard.

The investigating agency had yesterday also failed to submit the chargesheet. The High Court had then deferred its hearing on the case to the next day (today).

Earlier on November 9, the Crime Branch had asked for six weeks of time for submission of the chargesheet. However, the court had rejected the plea and directed the state investigating agency to submit a full-fledged chargesheet by November 12.

It may be recalled that advocate Debi Prasad Patnaik had an argument with some cops in connection with a road accident at Nuabazar in Cuttack on August 28 night following which the policemen had allegedly beaten him.

Lawyers of the High Court Bar Association have been resorting to a cease-work strike after the incident demanding arrest of the policemen involved in the attack on Patnaik.