Ram Jethmalani-one of the foremost and most controversial criminal law doyens of the legal fraternity -passed away at the age of 95 at his official residence in New Delhi. I understand he stopped appearing in courts regularly, but he continued to be active as a lawmaker and also an active participant in Rajya Sabha. Born in Sindh province of Karachi Pakistan, kicked off his career for about 70 years ago, having obtained Law Degree at the age of 17 years, I believe. Being a refugee from Pakistan, after 1948 partition, he moved to Bombay and started his practice.
He would rise to the fame 11 years later as one of the prosecutors in KM Nanavati vs State of Maharashtra in which the Naval commander was tried for the murder of his wife’s lover. It was a very sensational case in those days. Normally he was appearing for the accused in high profile cases, including the assassination case of Indira Gandhi former PM, Rajiv Gandhi, Asaram Bapu, sexual assault case, Jessica Lal murder case, Arvind Kejriwal Vs Arun Jaitely defamation case, Sohrabuddin Sh ah encounter case, and Jayalalitha ‘s disproportionate assets case, etc.
His political career was as interesting as his law career--he reached parliament from Janata Party, BJP, RJD, served under Vajpayee, and later contested against him, was expelled from BJP, and sued the party for that and at the age 64 in 1987, he announced his candidacy for the post of President of India. Jethmalani defended Amit Shah when he was facing probe in Sohrabuddin encounter of Gujarat in which he was discharged. While critics described him as “maverick”, rebel, and bold person, they were all unanimous that he was one of the best legal brains in the country.
Mr. KK Venugopal, AG recalled that “his boldness set him apart as the finest lawyers that the country has had and his passing away is also a loss to the parliament and the country as a whole”
Our heartfelt condolences to the departed soul.
He would rise to the fame 11 years later as one of the prosecutors in KM Nanavati vs State of Maharashtra in which the Naval commander was tried for the murder of his wife’s lover. It was a very sensational case in those days. Normally he was appearing for the accused in high profile cases, including the assassination case of Indira Gandhi former PM, Rajiv Gandhi, Asaram Bapu, sexual assault case, Jessica Lal murder case, Arvind Kejriwal Vs Arun Jaitely defamation case, Sohrabuddin Sh ah encounter case, and Jayalalitha ‘s disproportionate assets case, etc.
His political career was as interesting as his law career--he reached parliament from Janata Party, BJP, RJD, served under Vajpayee, and later contested against him, was expelled from BJP, and sued the party for that and at the age 64 in 1987, he announced his candidacy for the post of President of India. Jethmalani defended Amit Shah when he was facing probe in Sohrabuddin encounter of Gujarat in which he was discharged. While critics described him as “maverick”, rebel, and bold person, they were all unanimous that he was one of the best legal brains in the country.
Mr. KK Venugopal, AG recalled that “his boldness set him apart as the finest lawyers that the country has had and his passing away is also a loss to the parliament and the country as a whole”
Our heartfelt condolences to the departed soul.
