Thousands of advocates took to the streets near the Karnataka High Court and Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Tuesday, protesting the murders of two fellow advocates and an alleged attempt to murder another lawyer in Karnataka.
The protest followed the murders of advocate B. Manjunath in Whitefield and advocate Sriram V. in Annapoorneshwari Nagar, both in Bengaluru, along with the alleged attempted murder of advocate Venkataramana Sannakki in Gauribidanur, Kolar.
The demonstration was called by the Karnataka State Bar Council (KSBC) and the Advocates' Association Bengaluru (AAB). Advocates also abstained from court proceedings as part of the statewide protest.
Hundreds of demonstrators attempted to march towards Vidhana Soudha but were intercepted by police near the West Gate. The protesters demanded strict legal action against those accused in the attacks and sought stronger provisions under the Karnataka Prohibition of Violence Against Advocates Act, 2023.
Police Conduct and Advocates' Demands
Speaking during the protest, Bengaluru Advocates' Association president Vivek Subba Reddy accused police stations of interfering in the administration of criminal justice. He alleged that police stations were increasingly functioning like alternative courts by intervening in civil disputes and attempting to settle matters that should be addressed through the judicial system.
The BBA also submitted a memorandum to Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge, urging the state government to strengthen the Karnataka Prohibition of Violence Against Advocates Act, 2023.
The association called for stricter, non-bailable provisions, a minimum 10-year prison sentence for offences against advocates and standard operating procedures (SOPs) governing how police stations handle complaints and interactions involving lawyers.
The existing 2023 Act provides for imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to ₹1 lakh, or both for offences under the legislation. The protesters are therefore demanding substantially stronger penalties.
Murder of Advocate Sriram in Annapoorneshwari Nagar
On Oct 9, advocate Sriram was found unconscious on the Outer Ring Road near Nagarabhavi. He was initially suspected to have died of natural causes, with a possible heart attack being considered. However, after his family noticed injuries on his body, further examination and a post-mortem revealed a serious head injury and blood clotting in the brain.
The subsequent investigation reportedly established that Sriram had an argument with an autorickshaw driver, identified as Prithviraj, 31, over a fare dispute near Ambedkar College in Mallathahalli. The accused allegedly assaulted him after cornering him with the accused's associates, after which Sriram managed to walk some distance before collapsing.
The Annapoorneshwari Nagar police subsequently registered a murder case and arrested Prithviraj, who was remanded to judicial custody. Lawyers have pointed out that the accused Prithviraj was previously acquitted for a crime just one day prior.
Murder of Advocate Manjunath in Whitefield
In another incident, advocate B. Manjunath, 42, was allegedly shot dead at his residence in Pattandur Agrahara, within Whitefield police station limits, on Oct 18.
According to the preliminary police investigation, Manjunath had a dispute with two tenants from Bihar who worked as delivery partners over unpaid rent. The two men had allegedly failed to pay rent for three months.
The argument reportedly escalated, and the suspects allegedly returned later that night under the pretext of paying the rent. While Manjunath was counting the money handed over by one of them, the other allegedly shot him in the head before both fled.
The incident has also raised questions about how the accused obtained the firearm used in the killing. Police have identified two suspects and formed multiple teams to trace them. Investigators are also examining the possibility of a contract killing, although the motive and any possible involvement of others remain under investigation.
The accused had not been arrested at the time of publishing this article.
Attempted Murder of Advocate Venkataramana Sannakki in Gauribidanur
The third incident involved senior advocate Venkataramana Sannakki, who was allegedly stabbed near Gandhi Circle in Gauribidanur, Chikkaballapur district, on Oct 27.
According to local reports, Sannakki was attacked with a knife near his office while arriving at the premises of the Kasaba Rural Agricultural Cooperative Society. The unidentified attacker allegedly stabbed him in the neck before fleeing the scene.
The incident was subsequently included in the representations submitted by the bar associations, with advocates demanding that the accused be identified and arrested and that strict legal action be taken.
Karnataka High Court Takes Suo Motu Cognisance
In a significant development following the protests, the Karnataka High Court initiated a suo motu public interest litigation on Nov 3, taking note of the murders of Manjunath and Sriram and the alleged attempted murder of Sannakki.
A Division Bench comprising Justices D.K. Singh and H. Shanthi Bhushan directed the High Court Registry to register a PIL and sought detailed information from the state police regarding investigations into the murders of advocates across Karnataka.
The court also raised concerns over allegations that police stations were functioning as parallel courts by attempting to settle civil disputes between private parties.
It directed authorities to provide details of existing procedures governing how police stations receive and handle complaints from advocates. The court also sought case-wise information, including FIR details, arrests, evidence collected and the current status of investigations.
The matter is scheduled to be heard next on Dec 8, 2026.
Comments