Lawyers storm Sambhal court over CJM transfer, alleging police vendetta

Sambhal (The Uttam Hindu): The sudden transfer of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Vibhanshu Sudhir in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh has created a situation of conflict between the judiciary and the police administration. On Wednesday, lawyers erupted in anger against this transfer and protested fiercely outside the court premises. The lawyers raised slogans against the government and administration and raised the demand of 'bring back CJM sahab'. The lawyers directly allege that the judge has been punished by transfer for ordering an FIR against senior police officers.

Transfers overnight after orders to take action against police

CJM Vibhanshu Sudhir is the same judicial officer who recently issued the historic order to register an FIR against 20 policemen, including ASP Anuj Chaudhary, in the Sambhal violence case. This order was issued on January 9, 2026, and made public on January 12. The police administration was given a deadline to file the FIR, which was set to expire on January 22. However, just before this deadline expired, on the night of January 20, the CJM was transferred to Sultanpur. Lawyers have raised serious questions about this timing and attribute it to police pressure.

Lawyers call it murder of democracy, warn of agitation

Lawyers protesting in Chandausi today said the judge was targeted because he ordered action against the police in the case of the death of a young man named Alam. The controversy stems from the Sambhal violence of November 24, 2024, in which a man named Yamin accused the police of shooting his son three times. Lawyers say that when the judiciary attempts to crack down on police arbitrariness, such transfers raise questions about the justice system. They have warned that if this decision is not reversed, they will be forced to launch a violent protest.

There was chaos in the police department

Vibhanshu Sudhir, who assumed office on September 18, 2025, had taken several tough decisions in his short tenure of just a few months. In addition to the Sambhal violence case, he had previously issued a strict order to file a case against 13 policemen in a fake encounter case. The police administration rebelled against these orders, refusing to file an FIR and threatening to approach the High Court. Aditya Singh has now been appointed as the new Chief Judicial Magistrate of Sambhal, replacing Vibhanshu Sudhir. However, the former CJM's departure has sparked both political and political protests.