We, the protesting lawyers, were detained by the Delhi Police near the Supreme Court premises and taken to the Yamuna Sports Complex in East Delhi. However, Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India intervened then, and directions were issued for our immediate release. We were thereafter released at ITO, from where we marched towards the Supreme Court. After the march concluded, some of our colleagues dispersed, while a few of us, including myself, were about to leave after having a cup of tea. At that point, the Delhi Police, accompanied by certain senior-ranking officers, arrived at the spot once again. The police personnel began misbehaving with those present. On the instructions of the Additional CP Sanjay Bhatia, IPS, I was manhandled by certain goons wearing police uniforms. I told the Addnl CP about the directions issued by the CJI, but he paid no heed. One of the goons grabbed me so tightly that I found it difficult to breathe. It was only after the intervention of my colleagues and friends that he loosened his grip and I could breathe again. I was then put into a police bus once again. I contacted some of my friends, who reached out to the DCP concerned with the Supreme Court. It was only after my colleagues and friends intervened that I was finally released. Now one can understand the times we are living in and the state of affairs in this country. Lawyers, who are supposed to protect the rights of others, are themselves being prevented from exercising their fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression, and that too when specific instructions had been issued by none other than the Chief Justice of India. If members of the legal fraternity are subjected to such treatment for speaking the basics, one can well imagine the difficulties an ordinary citizen may face in asserting their voices. Pathetic! I am considering my options for formally complaining against this Additional CP before the CJI. #JantarMantarDelhi