Now, lawyers use CrPC changes to defend clients

On one hand, lawyers’ bodies in Delhi are protesting the amendments in the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC); on the other, some lawyers were found using the same to defend their clients, reports Nivedita Khandekar.

On one hand, lawyers’ bodies in Delhi are protesting the amendments in the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC); on the other, some lawyers were found using the same to defend their clients.

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Wednesday’s incident saw a bunch of lawyers objecting to arrests by the Anti-Corruption branch (ACB) in view of the notification.

“Two personnel from the social welfare department and one from Delhi Police arrested yesterday were produced before the special ACB court when a lawyer representing an accused presented a gazette notification about the amendment in the CrPC and objected to the arrests. He was joined by 8-10 other lawyers,” ACB sources said.

“Asking the public prosecutor to clarify the issue, the judge postponed the matter till tomorrow,”sources added.

The ACB had arrested the two welfare department officials in connection with their second case, three months after the first case was lodged about a large-scale scam in purchases without following stated procedures for shelter homes and orphanages run by the department.

The Delhi Police inspector was arrested after a sting operation had shown him accepting bribe from a complainant.

Those arrested continue to be in judicial custody.