New Delhi, Nov. 13 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the immediate release of a lawyer arrested by the Haryana Police's special task force (STF) in connection with a murder case, after the advocate contended that he was taken into custody only because he was representing one of the accused in the matter. A bench of Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai and justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria passed the order while hearing a petition filed by the lawyer, who alleged that his arrest was a blatant misuse of police power and a violation of constitutional protections of liberty under Articles 21 and 22. Appearing for the petitioner, senior advocate Vikas Singh asserted that the case involved "no evidence whatsoever" linking the lawyer to the offence and that his arrest was an abuse of process aimed at intimidating him for discharging his professional duties. "It is not a case of demanding special privileges for a lawyer but this is a case of no evidence. There is no admissible evidence against him at all. He should be released immediately," Singh told the bench. Taking note of the submissions, the bench directed the immediate release of the lawyer and issued notice to the state of Haryana. In its brief order, the top court recorded that the police officials of STF, Gurugram, had been in communication with the petitioner in connection with a murder case, but the arrest had reportedly taken place without written grounds or the presence of independent witnesses. "It is the contention of the petitioner that (he was arrested) when he reached the police station without written grounds of arrest or independent witnesses, in violation of Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution. In any case, the petitioner is an advocate by profession and is not likely to flee," the bench noted. "We direct the respondent to forthwith release the petitioner on bail. Let the registrar of this court immediately communicate the order to the authorities concerned in the state of Haryana," the court ordered....