Labour And Employment Lawyer Bhaavya Roy Arrested For Abusing Security Guard, Video Goes Viral On Social Media

Advocate Bhaavya Roy has been arrested for assaulting a security guard in a NOIDA-based apartment. In a video that went viral on social media on Sunday, the lawyer is seen using lewd and inappropriate language against the security guard. Police took prompt cognizance of the case based on the complaint of the security guard under sections 323, 504 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code on the charges of causing hurt, intentionally insulting and criminally intimidating the security guard. Roy is a labour and employment lawyer at a leading law firm based out of Delhi. 

The unfortunate manhandling by the lady lawyer

While it is not clear what made the woman so agitated and abusive, she appears to be miffed at the security guards for the delay in the opening of the gates of the society. In the video that surfaced online, the Delhi-based lawyer is seen making castist remarks by referring to the security guard as Bihari. Things take a turn for the worse when she grabs one of the security guards by his collar and uses physical violence against him.

How Twitter reacted

The video of the woman abusing the security guards went viral on the social media platform in no time and many Twitter users demanded strict action against Roy.  A Twitter user named Anshul Saxena noted the increasing instances of physical violence and false complaints against men and demanded the formation of a National Commission for Men.

Memes showcasing the actual meaning of women empowerment and true feminism have also been surfacing on social media platforms since then.

What lawyers and activists say

Noted men's activist and Journalist Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj condemned Bhaavya's act but feared that Bhaavya will bail out of the situation owing to the lop-sided women-centric laws in India. 

Renowned IP lawyer Safir Anand shared his personal views on the unfortunate incident.

Calling it a shameful act, he tweeted, "It’s good that the incident was captured on camera else a false allegation of abuse of a woman would have been made against the guard by someone practising in POSH."

Sharing a contrary view from the general sentiment with regards to the incident, Senior Advocate Vivek Sood questioned the manner of arrest and said that the Bar Associations across India must stand up to condemn the arrest of the lawyer working with DSK Legal. 

"The arrest is totally illegal being contrary to principles of arrest laid down by Supreme Court in Arnesh Kumar and so many cases." Calling for prosecuting the police officers, he added that the action could have been taken against Roy without arresting her.

The case has gained traction in a matter of hours, and while Roy has been taken into custody, it will be interesting to see whether the case sets a precedent for men's rights or is soon forgotten like other incidents of violence against men.