City police arrest lawyer accused of assaulting junior woman colleague
Officials said a plainclothes squad took Mr. Das's custody from a location near Station Kadavu in the Puthenvelikara police station, near Thumpa, late Thursday.
They said the police would record his detailed statement and produce him before the Judicial First Class Magistrate court on Friday.
Mr. Das's arrest came hours after he moved to the Principal District Sessions Court, Thiruvananthapuram, seeking anticipatory bail.
The court posted the bail plea for hearing on Friday. Mr. Das faced charges of assault and use of criminal force against a woman, voluntarily causing hurt and outraging the woman's modesty under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita, 2023.
Ms. Shyamili displayed the severe facial injuries she sustained in the alleged assault in front of television cameras on Tuesday, causing a huge public outcry.
A Thiruvananthapuram Bar Association office-bearer came under severe criticism from the legal fraternity and civil society for allegedly preventing the police from arresting Mr. Das from the latter's office in Vanchiyoor on the same day of the incident.
Ms. Shyamili alleged that the lawyer had maltreated her earlier for frivolous official reasons, even when she was pregnant. Public support surged for the young lawyer, with Law Minister P. Rajeeve and Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Thiruvananthapuram district secretary V. Joy, MLA, calling on her to express the government's support and solidarity.
ICC in courts
Mr. Rajeeve called for the constitution of Internal Complaints Committees (ICC) in district courts. He said the person who prevented the police from arresting Mr. Das would face prosecution. He sought the legal community's support for Ms. Shyamili.
On Wednesday, the Bar Council of Kerala barred Mr. Das from appearing before any court, tribunal or judicial forum, pending investigation and disciplinary proceedings.
A general body meeting of the Thiruvananthapuram Bar Association on Thursday declared support for Ms. Shyamili. Earlier on Wednesday, the association had suspended Mr. Das's membership.
Political affiliations
Meanwhile, a political row erupted between the Congress and the CPI(M) over Mr. Das's party affiliations. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan said that Mr. Das had contested the 2015 local body elections on a CPI(M) ticket. The CPI(M) clarified that Mr. Das left the CPI(M) to join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and later the Congress.
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