New Delhi: Nearly two weeks before he passed away due to a heart attack on Thursday, Supreme Court lawyer and Human Rights activist Ehtesham Hashmi was surrounded and threatened by around 300 lawyers inside the Indore Court premises for appearing to oppose the bail application of a Bajrang Dal leader.

Hashmi, who was known for his vocal activism against the Hindutva forces, died due to heart attack on Thursday.

According to a report published in Newslaundry.com the apex court lawyer had been threatened in the Indore court on January 28. He was appearing for Mufti Sabir Ali who had lodged a complaint against Bajrang Dal leader Tanu Sharma for his derogatory remarks against Prophet during the protests of Bollywood movie ‘Pathaan’ on January 25.

“Hashmi was not in their good books as last year he secured bail for the Muslim bangle seller…they often used to say within their circles that Hashmi is a PFI agent…the next day, on January 28, around 300 lawyers gathered inside the court to lead an attack on Hashmi. They wanted to set an example so that no lawyer would dare to fight such cases…Sharma got bail…Hashmi stepped out under police protection,” a lawyer, who wished to remain confidential, told Newslaundry.

Speaking to Newslaundry himself, Hashmi had admitted to having been threatened inside the Indore court on January 27, adding that he had not been bothered but continued with the argument.

The advocate had said, “Next day, the court was packed with lawyers who had come in support of Tanu Sharma. Despite repeated orders of the judge to leave the court, they didn’t step out. I was alerted in advance by my sources that I might be attacked and had requested for police security. Police escorted me outside the court…I am thankful to Indore police.”

Hashmi, however, had sent a defamation notice to the Hindi daily, Dainik Bhaskar. “They ran a totally fake story by indirect reference to me. How can they run news without verifying it?” asked Hashmi.

The advocate had been actively providing legal aid to survivors of instances of anti-Muslim violence. In 2022, he had secured bail for a Muslim bangle seller, who had been thrashed by the Hindutva activists and arrested by the Madhya Pradesh Police.

He had also been a part of several fact-finding committees, the latest being the panel that visited Tripura and Ujjain, which witnessed anti-Muslim violence.

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Mumbai, Jul 25 (PTI): Police have opposed the bail plea of the Bangladeshi national arrested for allegedly stabbing Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan with a knife and injuring him at his home here in January this year, telling a Mumbai court there was "strong evidence" against the accused.

Citing a Forensic Science Laboratory report, police reiterated before the sessions court their earlier claim knife fragments that got lodged near the actor's spine during the attack as well as a part found at the crime spot have matched with the weapon recovered from the accused, Shariful Islam.

These three pieces were part of the same weapon (knife) used to attack the filmstar, the police said in a written response to the accused's plea submitted in the court on Thursday (July 24).

Khan was repeatedly stabbed with a knife by an intruder inside his 12th floor apartment in upscale Bandra on January 16 during a robbery attempt.

The 54-year-old actor underwent surgery at Lilavati Hospital to remove a piece of knife that got lodged near his spine during the attack. He was discharged from the private hospital after five days.

Shariful Islam, a Bangladeshi national, was arrested two days later for allegedly stabbing Khan.

The police, in their response, highlighted that the accused is a Bangladeshi citizen residing illegally in India.

If granted bail, there was a possibility that he may flee India and not appear before the court during the trial. The crime committed by the accused is of a "very serious nature, and strong evidence" is available against him, they argued.

In his bail plea, filed through advocate Vipul Dushing, the accused asserted he was innocent and had no prior criminal record.

Investigation into the case has practically concluded with only the filing of a chargesheet pending, the accused contended while seeking bail.

The alleged attacker has been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections related to house trespass, robbery and dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous injury.