Work in Jalandhar courts came to a halt for the second consecutive day as lawyers staged a “no-working day” to protest against the threat and extortion case involving senior advocate Mandeep Singh Sachdeva. The incident has triggered outrage among the legal fraternity, who have demanded immediate and appropriate action against the accused along with the enactment of an ‘Advocate Protection Act’ in Punjab.
According to the FIR, Sachdeva received a message through Facebook Messenger from an account named Pind-Abbotsford.Wale on September 12. The sender demanded Rs 1.5 lakh in ransom, threatening that his family’s photos would be made public and defamatory material circulated if the money was not paid. The accused also insisted that Sachdeva return legal fees allegedly paid years earlier, in connection with the 2008 Nurmahal kidnapping case, but now with interest. The threats were traced to individuals identified as Sandeep Singh alias Sunny, who claimed to be in Canada, Jatinder Singh alias Sabi, a resident of village Mand in Jalandhar, and another man who was to physically collect the money.
The lawyer promptly alerted police, following which the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) laid a trap. One of the men accused of collecting the cash was nabbed, but controversy broke out after police later declared him innocent. Advocates allege that despite sufficient evidence, including online threats and social media defamation, the FIR did not invoke the proper sections of law and the accused were being treated with undue leniency.
“This is not just about one individual. If an advocate can be threatened like this, it raises questions about the safety of the entire legal community,” said a senior lawyer during the protest, adding that the boycott would continue until justice was ensured and accountability fixed.
The agitation has paralysed judicial work in Jalandhar and other districts, with litigants left waiting outside court complexes as hearings were adjourned. Many expressed frustrations over the disruption but also voiced sympathy for the advocates’ demand for protection. Bar associations across Punjab have expressed solidarity, declaring that the protest highlights the urgent need for a statutory mechanism to protect lawyers from intimidation, violence, and harassment.
With courts silent for a second straight day in Jalandhar, the legal fraternity has made it clear that the protests will not end until both the extortion case is handled transparently and their longstanding demand for an Advocate Protection Act is seriously addressed.
