A serving Lieutenant Colonel stationed at the Chandimandir Military Station has accused a group of lawyers of assaulting him inside the Panchkula district court complex on July 9. He also alleged that he was confined in a lawyer's chamber and compelled to sign a Raazinama against his will.
Based on his complaint, the Sector 7 police in Panchkula registered an FIR on Friday night. The case includes charges related to causing hurt, causing grievous injuries, criminal intimidation and rioting.
Lt Col Ashish Chandok has been appearing before the Family Court in Panchkula in connection with three cases filed by his estranged wife over the past year. Both have been living separately.
In his complaint, Lt Col Chandok alleged that an argument broke out during the court proceedings with his wife's counsel, Maninder Singh Bitta. He claimed Bitta later called several other lawyers, who surrounded him outside the courtroom of Family Court Judge Rekha and physically attacked him. He further alleged that the lawyers took him to the chamber of advocate N S Sodhi, where he was allegedly kept against his will and assaulted again.
Lt Col Chandok claimed the lawyers pressured him to sign a Raazinama (settlement agreement), warning him that he would not be allowed to leave unless he complied. He told the police that he signed the document under threat He alleged that was not able to read its contents and noticed only that it was a brief document of five to six lines. He alleged that he was allowed to leave only after signing it.
A medical examination conducted at the Civil Hospital in Sector 6, Panchkula, indicated a suspected fracture of the coccyx (tailbone). The medical report recorded a discontinuity in the bone, suggesting a likely fracture.
Station House Officer Rajbir Yadav of the Sector 7 police station said no arrests had been made so far. He said investigators were awaiting the doctor's final opinion and were also examining CCTV footage from the court complex before taking further action.
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