Ram Jethmalani, Eminent Lawyer And Former Union Law Minister, Dies at 95

Veteran lawyer and former Union minister Ram Jethmalani has died. He was 95. Jethmalani passed away at his residence in Delhi on Sunday. Jethmalani also served as chairman of the Bar Council of India. One of the most well-known personalities in the Indian legal system, Jethmalani represented many high-profile cases. At one time, he was said to be the highest paid lawyer in the Supreme Court of India.

He represented famous clients such as PV Narsimha Rao, LK Advani, Arvind Kejriwal to controversial ones including Harshad Mehta and Manu Sharma. 

Jethmalani served as the law minister and the urban development minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet. 

He gained national attention from appearing in the famous KM Nanavati versus State of Maharashtra case in 1959. He also defended LK Advani in the Hawala scam case. One of his final cases was fighting for Arvind Kejriwal in his defamation case against Arun Jaitley.

Jethmalani had announced his retirement in September 2017.

Ram Jethmalani breathed his last at 7.45 am at his official residence in New Delhi, his son Mahesh Jethmalani told PTI. He was not keeping well for a few months. Jethmalani passed away four days before his 96th birthday on September 14, his son said. Mahesh said his father's last rites will be performed in the evening at the Lodhi road crematorium.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ram Jethmalani served as minister in the Vajpayee cabinet. 
• Ram Jethmalani also served as chairman of the Bar Council of India.
• His last rites will be performed on Sunday evening at Lodhi road crematorium.