Famous Indian Lawyers
Ram Jethmalani was a talented attorney and nationalist who graduated law school at a very early age, starting practicing by 17 when his leaders used legal proceedings as platforms for political activism.
He has represented clients in high-profile cases such as the Nanavati affair and represented L K Advani during the Hawala scam trial. Additionally, he represented British citizen in drug smuggling case as well as Manu Sharma during Jessica Lall murder trial.
Ram Jethmalani
Ram Jethmalani was an esteemed lawyer, jurist, and professor of law who championed civil liberties by fighting against any arbitrary government actions that violated them. Furthermore, he championed reforms to legal education and court processes.
He made his legal debut during the 1948 Karachi riots when, at just 17 years old, on advice from his friend Brohi he fled India with just one rupee note and settled into refugee camps in India. Although at that time the minimum age requirement to become a lawyer was 21, due to his exceptional academic achievements and application a special license was granted for him to practice law.
He first gained recognition when he made an appearance in the Nanavati case with YV Chandrachud in 1959 and quickly rose through the ranks, representing clients like Harshad Mehta and Ketan Parekh, becoming well-known for his cross-examination skills and controversial remarks, clashes with politicians and writing several books covering legal and political matters.
Harshad Mehta
Harshad Mehta, an heir of a Mumbai-based shipping firm, exploited fraudulent transactions to manipulate the stock market in 1992. His scheme used ready forward (RF) deals and fake bank receipts to artificially inflate stock prices and secure loans from banks; his actions revealed regulatory gaps and weaknesses within Bombay Stock Exchange’s transaction system.
Mehta led an extravagant lifestyle in Mumbai that aroused admiration among peers and the public alike. Following his legal troubles related to his scam, his family faced legal troubles as well; yet they refused to allow their legacy be damaged.
Mehta died in prison in 2001, yet his story continues to draw audiences’ interest. His saga tells a tale of ambition and greed set against the backdrop of rapidly evolving economies requiring robust financial regulations. Mehta’s demise was both spectacular and mysterious; its scandal caused ripple effects which have altered India’s financial history forever.
Ketan Parekh
Ketan Parekh was a stockbroker who engaged in massive manipulation of stock prices, defrauding financial institutions. His scheme was exposed when an issue concerning dud pay orders issued from Mumbai branch of Bank of India led to investigations by government agencies, ultimately leading to his arrest on various counts, such as insider trading, front running, circular trading as well as bribing officials and misleading investors. This case led to significant reforms such as 14 year trading ban and stringent SEBI regulations on market manipulation.
His scheme involved buying stocks with small market caps and artificially inflating their price to secure loans from banks and financial institutions such as Madhavpura Mercantile Cooperative Bank (MMCB) and Global Trust Bank (GTB). Furthermore, he worked in collusion with promoters of companies to manipulate prices for maximum gain. Unfortunately, his schemes caused massive market crashes costing retail investors billions.
Manu Sharma
Manu Sharma was the son of Haryana Congress politician Venod Sharma. He became involved in entertainment businesses and sugar mills before serving as the president of the Congress Party in Haryana. Unfortunately, in 1999 he was found guilty of murdering Jessica Lall by shooting her at a party in New Delhi.
He holds both a Bachelors in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Masters of Aerospace Engineering from Stanford University. Additionally, he currently works with Ottawa-based company AirLoop which seeks to revolutionize how brands utilize engagement technologies.
He is known for defending high-profile clients in criminal proceedings. Specifically, he represented Harshad Mehta and Ketan Parekh during their respective cases (HM and stock scam respectively), among many other politicians and businesspeople (such as L K Advani in hawala scam case as well as AIADMK leader Jayalalitha’s 2G scam case).
