Noise Dispute Turns Violent in Bilaspur's Rajkishore Nagar
What began as a late-night birthday celebration in Bilaspur allegedly turned violent, with a judge and his relatives claiming they were attacked after objecting to loud noise. The incident in the Rajkishore Nagar area has prompted a police case and renewed discussion about public celebrations and noise.
Bilaspur is known as the city of courts, which makes the allegations involving a judge's family especially notable.
A Holiday Visit Turns Into a Sleepless Night
Prafull Kumar Sonwani, who serves as a judge at the Family Court in Mahasamund, had taken leave to attend a family programme. On October 31, 2026, he arrived with his family at his in-laws' home in Rajkishore Nagar, under the Sarkanda police station area.
Around 11 PM, family members were asleep when loud drumming and firecrackers suddenly erupted in the lane. According to the complaint, the noise was so intense that children and elderly members were scared. It went on for roughly 45 minutes.
Unable to sleep and concerned about the disturbance, Sonwani went out to find out what was happening and to request that the noise be stopped.
Dispute With a Crowd of 100 to 200 People
He reached the lane to find a crowd of about 100 to 200 people. The complaint alleges that the gathering was marking the birthday of Abhay Barua, who was with his companions. When Sonwani raised an objection to the drums and firecrackers, the response allegedly was not restraint but an argument that quickly grew heated.
According to the complaint, Barua and his companions used obscene abuse and issued threats to kill. Hitting with fists followed, and the sudden violence caused confusion and panic at the scene.
Relatives Also Allegedly Attacked
When news of the altercation spread, relatives rushed to the spot. Akanksha, Abhishek Bhardwaj, Neera Bhardwaj, and Gurpreet Kaur Bhardwaj reached the location. They allege that they too were assaulted while attempting to intervene.
During the clash, Sonwani's shirt button was torn. The glasses of his wife and brother-in-law were removed. Akanksha suffered an injury near the upper part of her right arm. Abhishek Bhardwaj reported injuries to his head, chest, and neck.
Police Register Case Under BNS
After filing a complaint at Sarkanda police station, Sonwani led to the registration of a case against Abhay Barua and other companions. Police have invoked sections 115(2), 296, 3(5), and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The sections include provisions relating to voluntarily causing hurt, obscene acts or words, offences committed with common intention, and criminal intimidation. Police are probing the case.
Questions About Public Celebrations
The incident raises a broader question about how public and late-night celebrations are monitored. Can a birthday or private event justify disturbing the sleep, safety, and peace of neighbours? And why should a person who objects to such noise face threats and violence?
The allegations remain under investigation, and the role of every person named will be established through proper legal process. The episode, however, is a reminder that the right to celebrate must be balanced with the right of others to rest, security, and peaceful living.