People's take on Jethmalani stand

People who read this also read:

Jessica snubbed killer: Jethmalani

Jethmalani said Jessica was not shot because she refused to serve a drink, but because of some other severe motive.

• Sikh man killed Jessica: Jethmalani

Featured Blog

Yogesh Kumar

The 'Hall of Shame'

Featured Slideshows

Related Headlines

powered by

• Jessica snubbed killer: Jethmalani
• Sikh man killed Jessica: Jethmalani

Keywords: Ram Jethmalini, Manu Sharma

New Delhi: Manu Sharma's defence lawyer Ram Jethmalani on Saturday alleged that the media was taking over the role of courts. "The press has carried out a sedulous campaign against him," Jethmalani said.

So is he right? The former Law Minister is now the lawyer for Manu Sharma, the main accused in the Jessica Lall murder case.

His stand isn't one that all lawyers agree with. "I requested him to not take up the matter, but he did not agree," says Supreme Court advocate, Kamini Jaiswal.

But Jethmalani has stood his ground, arguing that it's the media which has overstepped its role. The Jessica Lall murder case was widely covered in both the print and electronic media - coverage which Jethamalani says amounted to a smear campaign against Manu Sharma.

However, it's an allegation that the media people deny. "The media hasn't conducted the trial. It's a watchdog and it's barked, and it's made sleeping authorities wake up and take notice. There's been undue attention on what the media is doing, and the media itself is partly responsible for this," says Executive Editor of Tehelka, Sankarshan Thakur.

Editor-in-Chief of Outlook, Vinod Mehta, says, "Part of his strategy is to take the media for a ride. He wants the media to introspect, while he comes and resurrects the case and says there's been a miscarriage of justice, but against Manu Sharma! It's extraordinary."

Some lawyers say the allegation that the media took over the role of the courts is unfounded. "If the media has only asked that the trial be conducted quickly, it's not prejudicing the case. It would be prejudicing if they talked about his sentencing," says Supreme Court advocate, R K Anand.

Jethmalani has defended his decision to take up the case, saying it's his duty to ensure his client gets a fair trial. With him heading Manu Sharma's defence team, that's one claim not too many will doubt.