India’s eminent lawyer and former Union minister Ram Jethmalani on September 8, 2019, passed away at the age of 95. Jethmalani passed away at his residence in Delhi. In his seven-decade-long career, Ram Jethmalani appeared in defence of Rajiv Gandhi's killers in Madras High Court in 2011, defence of Indira Gandhi's killers, Amit Shah's defence in Sohrabuddin fake encounter case, Kanimozhi's defence in Spectrum 2G case, Underworld don Haji Mastan, Afzal Guru, Arvind Kejriwal vs Arun Jaitley defamation case, Lalu Prasad Fodder scam and many more. Check out pictorial synopsis of Ram Jethmalani’s life. (Photo Credit: PTI)
Born in September 14, 1923 in Shikarpur, Ram Jethmalani was a bright student and got a triple promotion when in school. He obtained his LL.B. degree at the age of 17 and started practising law in Karachi until the partition of India.
Ram Jethmalani (Photo Credit: ramjethmalanimp.in)
Following the partition in 1947, Jethmalani moved to Mumbai as a refugee.
Ram Jethmalani (Photo Credit: ramjethmalanimp.in)
In 1959, Ram Jethmalani appeared in the famous K.M. Nanavati vs. State of Bombay case. This was among the last cases to be heard as a jury trial in India, as the government abolished jury trials soon after.
Ram Jethmalani (Photo Credit: ramjethmalanimp.in)
Ram Jethmalani earned a reputation of being a ‘smuggler’s lawyer’ after he defended Haji Mastan, in a smuggling case.
Ram Jethmalani (Photo Credit: ramjethmalanimp.in)
In 1987, at the age of 64, Ram Jethmalani announced his candidature for the President’s post. He also launched a political front and called it Bharat Mukti Morcha.
Ram Jethmalani (Photo Credit: ramjethmalanimp.in)
In 1995 he launched his own political party called ‘Pavitra Hindustan Kazhagam’, with a motto to achieve transparency in the functioning of Indian Democracy.
Ram Jethmalani (Photo Credit: ramjethmalanimp.in)
Jethmalani was elected a member of parliament in the 6th and 7th Lok Sabha on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket from Mumbai. He has served as Law Minister of India and also as Minister of Urban Development during the prime ministership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Ram Jethmalani in Rajya Sabha (Photo Credit: Screenshot - RSTV)
However, Jethmalani later went on to contest the general elections of 2004 against Atal Bihari Vajpayee from the Lucknow constituency. In 2013, Ram Jethmalani was expelled from BJP, for accusing it of being “silent against high corruption”.
Ram Jethmalani with Bala Saheb Thackeray (Photo Credit: ramjethmalanimp.in)
Recently, Jethmalani made news for having sent the Delhi Government a bill of over 1.5 crores for appearing for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a defamation suit.
Ram Jethmalani (Photo Credit: PTI)
Jethmalani passed away four days before his 96th birthday on September 14.
Ram Jethmalani (Photo Credit: PTI)
