Recently, a violent altercation at a toll plaza on the Lucknow–Sultanpur highway has escalated into a law-and-order flashpoint in Uttar Pradesh, after a practising advocate was allegedly assaulted by toll plaza staff over a payment-related dispute. The episode, captured on video and widely circulated, has prompted criminal proceedings, custodial action against toll employees, termination of the operating agency’s contract by the National Highways Authority of India, and sustained protests by members of the legal fraternity.
The incident occurred on January 14, 2026, at the Gotona Bara (Bara) Toll Plaza in Barabanki district, when Advocate Ratnesh Shukla, a resident of Pratapgarh and a practitioner before the Lucknow High Court, was travelling in his private vehicle. Police records indicate that a dispute arose over toll payment/FASTag issues, following which toll plaza employees allegedly surrounded, chased, and assaulted the advocate. The viral footage shows toll staff forcing the lawyer to apologise while continuing to beat him. Police shifted the injured advocate to a Community Health Centre for medical treatment.
Based on the advocate’s complaint, Haidergarh police registered an FIR invoking Sections 115(2), 352, 351(3), 109(1), 110, 311 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The toll plaza management, however, offered a counter-version, claiming that the same vehicle had earlier breached the toll gate without payment on December 30, 2025, and that the confrontation occurred when it allegedly attempted to pass again without paying the toll.
The incident provoked strong reactions from the legal community, with lawyers staging protests at Haidergarh police station and the toll plaza, leading to traffic disruptions. Protestors demanded stricter penal provisions, including the invocation of Section 109 of the BNS, citing the nature of the assault.
Police confirmed that multiple toll employees were taken into custody for questioning, while senior officers stated that further investigation is underway. The escalation of protests drew attention to what lawyers described as an initially lenient approach by local authorities. Amid mounting pressure, the Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra wrote to the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, seeking the constitution of a Special Investigation Team and protection for the assaulted advocate.
Acting independently of the criminal proceedings, the National Highways Authority of India terminated the contract of M/s Skylark Infra Engineering Pvt. Ltd., the agency operating the Bara Toll Plaza, citing “serious violation of contractual conditions.” NHAI also proposed the forfeiture of Rs. 5.3 crore bank guarantee and blacklisting of the agency from future tenders for one year. A new toll operator was appointed and became operational at the plaza from 8 PM on January 16, 2026.
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