Today, On 19th December, Supreme Court agreed to hear a female lawyer’s plea alleging shocking 14-hour illegal detention and custodial sexual assault by police officials. The bench said serious allegations warranted examination and issued notice while directing preservation of CCTV footage evidence.
The Supreme Court issued a notice regarding a petition filed by a practicing female advocate, who claims she endured 14 hours of unlawful detention, custodial sexual assault, torture, and coercion by police personnel at P.S. Noida Sector 126, U.P.
This incident began late on the night of December 3, 2025, while she was performing her professional duties for a client.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and NV Anjaria initially hesitated to hear the case but ultimately agreed, given the serious nature of the allegations and the fact that it involves the shutdown of CCTV cameras.
Also Read: Female Lawyer Assault Case| Kerala Court Grants Bail to Accused Advocate Beyline Das
The bench stated,
“Normally we would not entertain this case; however, considering the serious allegations made in the petition and the fact that the issue also relates to locking of CCTV cameras, which this bench is monitoring, we are entertaining this petition. Issue notice returnable 7th January. In the meantime, the Commissioner of Police, Gautam Buddha Nagar is to ensure that the CCTV footage for the concerned duration in the police station is not deleted and is kept in a sealed cover.”
The court has been informed that the intentional and harmful attack on a female advocate, who serves as an officer of the court, necessitates not only immediate individual recourse for inquiry and a CBI/SIT investigation but also urges the court to utilize its plenary jurisdiction to develop and issue national guidelines or laws aimed at safeguarding and respecting women advocates throughout the country, thereby ensuring their fundamental right to practice their profession with equality, safety, and security.
Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, representing the complainant, told the court,
“This lady lawyer was sexually mauled. They have locked out the CCTV camera. Let that be immediately seized. The complainant was forced to withdraw his complaint. All this will have to be looked into. This is very serious.”
Senior Advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani, who also appeared for the aggrieved advocate, expressed,
“They seized my mobile and deleted all the videos. There was a threat to my life. It is traumatic. I am scared.”
The petitioner seeks urgent intervention from the Supreme Court due to the extreme circumstances and the absence of alternative remedies.
The plea states,
“She faces death threats and coercion from police officers, and her life and liberty are at risk. The distance to the relevant High Court (Allahabad) from her location (Delhi) adds to the urgency, making it necessary to approach the Supreme Court under Article 32 for immediate protection,”
Notably, the Apex Court is already dealing with a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the non-functionality of CCTV cameras in police stations nationwide, following reports of 11 custodial deaths in 2025. The bench had acknowledged a report published by Dainik Bhaskar that highlighted the disturbing rise in custodial deaths over the past several months.
Justice Nath remarked,
“Based on Dainik Bhaskar, we are directing a suo motu PIL titled Lack of functional CCTVs in police stations, as 11 custodial deaths were reported in 2025 over the past 7–8 months,”
The Court’s action represents a significant move toward enforcing adherence to its previous orders mandating the installation of CCTV in all police stations to ensure transparency and accountability.
Also Read: Women Lawyers Urge PM Modi to Ensure Toilets for Women at Maharashtra Consumer Court
The Dainik Bhaskar report indicated,
“There have been 11 deaths in police custody in the state within 8 months of 2025. 7 deaths have occurred in Udaipur division. In August, two bullion traders died in Kankroli police station of Rajsamand district and Rishabhdev police station of Udaipur district. Information was sought under RTI in all the cases.”
This development comes nearly five years after the Supreme Court mandated, in a landmark 2020 judgment delivered by Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman, KM Joseph, and Aniruddha Bose, the installation of CCTV systems in all police stations across the nation.
Case Title: X vs. Union of India
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
