AMN / NEW DELHI
Former Union law minister and Eminent lawyer Ram Jethmalani passed away today. He was 96.
Ram Jethmalani breathed his last at 7:45 am at his official residence.
He was not keeping well for a few months. Ram Jethmalani’s last rites will be performed in the evening at the Lodhi Road crematorium in New Delhi. Mr Jethmalani, a six-time Rajya Sabha member, served as a Union Minister in the United Front and NDA governments.
Vice President, Venkaiah Naidu Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders have extended their condolences on his demise.
Ram Jethmalani was also a member of the current Rajya Sabha. He is survived by his son Mahesh Jethmalani, who is also a noted lawyer, and a daughter. His other daughter, Rani Jethmalani, had passed away in 2011.
Jethmalani, who announced his retirement in September 2017, fought several high-profile cases, representing many controversial clients from stockbroker Harshad Mehta to former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao, among others.
From appearing in the famous KM Nanavati versus State of Maharashtra case in 1959 to the multi-crore 2G scam in 2011, from being LK Advani’s defence in the Hawala scam to fighting for Arvind Kejriwal in a defamation case filed by Arun Jaitley, Jethmalani has been part of many high-profile cases in the court of law.
Jethmalaani was not just a brilliant lawyer. He was also a great parliamentarian.
Whenever he participated in any debate both sides used to listen. India has lost a great human being whose contribution to our country isn’t fully appreciated.