The Bar Council of India has strongly condemned the violent assault on its Co-Chairman Y.R. Sadasiva Reddy inside his chamber in Bengaluru. Calling it a direct threat to the legal fraternity, the BCI stated, “Legal professionals are meant to operate safely and independently.”
New Delhi: Bar Council of India (BCI) Co-Chairman and Senior Advocate YR Sadasiva Reddy attacked by unidentified individuals inside his chamber in Bengaluru.
In a public statement issued on Thursday, the BCI condemned the “inhuman, targeted and nearly fatal assault” and demanded an immediate investigation into the incident.
According to the BCI, the assault occurred on April 16 when two unknown men entered Reddy’s professional chamber and attacked him with iron rods. The attack reportedly took place in the presence of Reddy’s junior advocate.
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In a press release dated 17 April 2025, BCI stated that,
“This brazen act, carried out with clear premeditation and open threats of murder, is an alarming symptom of a deeper sickness now infecting the space in which legal professionals are meant to operate safely and independently.”
Reddy, who is also a member of the Karnataka State Bar Council, suffered multiple fractures in his right forearm, left elbow, and leg.
The BCI stated in its press release,
“These were not random injuries; these were blows aimed at silencing, at crippling, and at intimidating a senior advocate and an elected representative of the legal fraternity,”
BCI urged the authorities to ensure that such attacks are not repeated and that the perpetrators are brought to justice swiftly.
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It also appealed to the legal fraternity to stand united in protest against this brazen assault and to safeguard the independence and dignity of lawyers across the country.
BCI highlighted that the attackers were allegedly provoked by an “old and settled complaint from a woman,” which had been lawfully dismissed by the Karnataka State Bar Council nearly two years ago. The Council fears that this attack may have been incited by elements opposing the regulatory role of Bar Councils.
The BCI characterized the attack as a serious infringement on the independence of the legal profession and reiterated the need for prompt investigation and accountability.
The BCI also invoked Section 228 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which penalises intentional insult or interruption to a public servant sitting in any stage of a judicial proceeding. Additionally, the assault could fall under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.
Bar Council of India is a statutory body established under the Advocates Act, 1961, responsible for regulating the legal profession and legal education in India.
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