A representative of the Bombay High Court was physically assaulted and threatened while carrying out an official land possession procedure in Kamothe, Navi Mumbai. The incident led to the filing of a police case against a father and son, a senior police official confirmed on Sunday.
Attack During Official Court Duty
The victim, identified as Pawan Donuji Hargule (31), a clerk with the High Court, had visited the site to take formal possession of a plot. He was accompanied by surveyors from the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO). Their actions were in direct compliance with a valid court order, which mandated the initiation of fencing work on the disputed land.
Father-Son Duo Confronts Official
According to the police complaint, the situation turned violent when the plot owners, Yogesh Bhagat (25) and his father Vishwas Bhagat (55), confronted Hargule. The duo allegedly physically assaulted the court clerk to obstruct the legal procedure. Yogesh Bhagat is accused of preventing Hargule from recording the official proceedings, while his father, Vishwas, attempted to strike the clerk with a shovel.
Police Action and Legal Repercussions
Following the attack, a formal complaint was lodged, leading to the registration of a case against the Bhagats. The Navi Mumbai police are investigating the charges, which are likely to include assault, intimidation, and obstruction of a public servant from performing his duty. This incident highlights the challenges and risks faced by officials executing court mandates in contentious land disputes.
The attack on a court official performing his duty as per a judicial order represents a serious challenge to the rule of law. It underscores the volatile nature of land disputes in the region and the potential for such conflicts to escalate into violence against authorities.
