Supreme Court judge stabbed, assailant held

New Delhi: Justice A. N. Grover of the Supreme Court was today attacked with a knife by a man and injured on the back of his head while dealing with a case in the court.

Justice Grover, who was removed to Willingdon Hospital immediately after the attack, was later stated to be progressing “satisfactorily.”

The man, later identified as Manmohan Das of West Bengal, struck Justice Grover sitting alongside Chief Justice Hidyatullah in open court. He used a Manipuri knife with a longish blade and struck Justice Grover on the head as the judge was getting up to defend himself. He received a gash on the right side of his head and bled profusely. As the blow was struck, both Justice Grover and the assailant lost balance and fell on the dais. The assailant was immediately overpowered by court attendants and a policeman on duty.

Inspector- general of police B. B. Mishra said that the unprecedented crime was apparently without any motive nor was it pre- planned. It appeared to be an attempt by Manmohan Das to achieve “some kind of fame”.