Karnataka court bins threat case against lawyer who intervened for client

The Karnataka High Court dismissed a cheating and criminal intimidation case against lawyer Mayur D Bhanu, who had intervened on behalf of his client in a financial dispute. Justice M Nagaprasanna ruled that the legal profession cannot be undermined by disgruntled litigants using criminal proceedings as retaliation. The case was initially filed by Shrenik Chandrashekar against Bhanu, who was accused of threatening and cheating him following a phone call from Gaurav, who allegedly owed money to Bhanu.

However, the court found no evidence of a transaction between Chandrashekar and Bhanu, and dismissed the cheating charge. The court also ruled that the criminal intimidation charge was unsupported and based on conjecture. Justice Nagaprasanna noted that the delay in filing the case and the lack of concrete allegations cast a "chilling shadow" on the fearless discharge of professional duties by members of the Bar.