Controversy Over FIR Against Family Court Judge Leads to TI Line Attach

A legal dispute in Bilaspur has triggered a rare police personnel reshuffle after an FIR was lodged against family‑court judge Prabhul Kumar Sonwani.

The incident unfolded in the residential locality of Rajkisor Nagar, where a birthday celebration with loud drums and fireworks lasted into the early hours. Judge Sonwani, who presides over the Mahasamund Family Court, objected to the disturbance, sparking a confrontation with local property dealer Abhay Barua and several of his helpers. According to the police diary, the confrontation turned violent, with verbal insults and a physical push‑and‑pull involving the judge and members of his family.

Police initially filed an FIR against Barua and his men. A subsequent complaint by the judge’s side resulted in a second FIR naming the judge as the accused, an unusual step that raised eyebrows across the judicial fraternity.

Legal officers voiced strong objections, arguing that the FIR was lodged without the requisite administrative permission and without a comprehensive, impartial investigation. The episode quickly became a flashpoint between the police and the judiciary.

Responding to the growing tension, SSP Rajnesh Singh issued an order that placed Sarakanda police TI Pradeep Arya on line‑attachment status, effectively suspending him from active duty. The role was handed over to Naresh Chauhan, who now oversees the Sarakanda police station.

While the official directive cited “administrative reasons,” many analysts view the attachment as a direct consequence of the heated debate over filing an FIR against a sitting judge, highlighting the sensitive interplay between law‑enforcement actions and judicial independence in the state.