The issue: The Mumbai police team wanted to arrest Kulkarni in a cheating case, but the lawyers said their attempt was illegal. The police officers had arrest warrants, but had to face a group of about 200 lawyers who protested against their ``unlawful'' activity.

The fight began immediately after Kulkarni left the courtroom with his lawyer B R Handa. As soon as he came out of the courtroom, a group of Delhi police officers chased him up to Handa's chamber in Patiala House. Additional DCP (South) Vivek Gogia was also present in the group, the lawyers allege. Apparently, they threatened to take Kulkarni and tried to enter Handa's chamber by pushing him. Lawyers, however, gathered there and stopped the police. An application against the police for``trespassing'' was moved in the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sangita Dhingra Sehgal.

Later, at about 3 pm, Kulkarni and Handa left the court premises in Handa's car. As they drove through Gate Number 2 of the Patiala House Courts, Mumbai police officers tried to stop the car and apparently showed them the arrest warrants. They subsequently blocked Handa's way.

Handa used his mobile phone to call his collegues and they gathered at the gate. Some of the Delhi police officers tried to intervene, but were stopped by the New Delhi Bar Association (NDBA) secretary A U Khan, who told them to leave the court premises.

In the meantime, SHO Tilak Marg police station arrived and said that Kulkarni should be present in the court. The NDBA president, K K Sareen asked Handa to take Kulkarni to the court. Lawyers started shouting slogans and threatened to set the police car on fire. One of the police officers retaliated by saying he would open fire and the two groups even got into a fistfight.

Meanwhile, Handa and his client Kulkarni quietly walked through the crowd and proceeded towards the High Court.

Later, the NDBA moved an application in the court and alleged that plains clothes policemen had assaulted the lawyers.

Following today's incidents, four senior Delhi Police officers have been summoned to the court today. The orders passed by Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) S C Mittal directed Additional Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi and South districts) to be present in the court today at 3 pm. The directions were issued following an application moved by the New Delhi Bar Association.

Four Mumbai police officers who were injured in the fight have filed a complaint at the Tilak Marg police station, where a case of rioting and obstructing the police has been registered.

The NDBA has decided to abstain from work in the Patiala House Courts today. Lawyers have been asked to attend only urgent and bail matters.