Mumbai, Nov 23 (IANS): In a sensational incident, a complainant in a assault case attacked the two accused with a knife in front of a magistrate during a court hearing here on Wednesday, officials said.

The incident happened around 12.30 pm in Bhoiwada Court No 5 when Harischandra Shirkar, who is a complainant in an assault case, appeared before the court along with two accused Mahesh V. Mappalkar and Nandesh B. Kadwadkar.

It was the final hearing in an eight-year old assault case in which the accused duo was acquitted by the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate S.J. Biyani.

Apparently angered by the acquittal Shirkar suddenly whipped out a knife from his pocket, lunged at them and slashed them on their heads, as the stunned policemen, judicial officers and other litigants present there looked on.

A team of Bhoiwada police, which was accompanying the accused, immediately caught and overpowered Shirkar, 67, confiscated the weapon and whisked him off.

He has been placed under arrest on various charges including attempt to murder, said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone IV, N. Ambika.

The seriously injured Mappalkar and Kadwadkar were rushed to the nearby KEM Hospital, where they are reported to be stable and out of danger, said Assistant Commissioner of Police Dinesh Joshi.

Senior officials are probing security lapses as to how Shirkar managed to smuggle in a knife inside the packed courtroom.

According to preliminary investigations, officials said that Shirkar who was attacked by Mappalkar and Kadwadkar eight years ago near Elphinstone Road area was in a state of depression as his assailants were acquitted in the case.

Anticipating their possible release by the court on Wednesday, Shirkar had come prepared from his home, carrying a knife which he managed to smuggle inside the courtroom.