For years, J Vasanthan was struggling to secure enrollment in the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. He claimed he had an LLB degree from Indian Institute of Professional Studies. However, the institute was not recognised by the Bar Council of India (BCI). But he allegedly found a career lifeline: Delhi-based advocate Arvind Panchal and Jagdish Yadav, an employee of Bar Council of Delhi (BCD). Vasanthan, a resident of Tamil Nadu, allegedly reached out to Panchal in December 2022. Panchal then allegedly “instructed him to come to the Capital with the necessary documents” and then introduced him to Yadav. After an alleged payment of Rs 1.5 lakh, Vasanthan was told he was enrolled in the BCD successfully.
On September 18, however, Vasanthan was shocked to receive a message from the BCD regarding his suspension due to a “forged” law degree and “fraudulent marksheets”. In November, his licence was suspended after the BCI wrote to the state bar council and directed his removal.
In his communication with the BCI, Vasanthan annexed close to 100 documents and mentioned that he had come to Delhi in January 2023 for “enrolment through the chain of gambling groups”. Vasanthan levelled allegations against Panchal and Yadav before the BCI. He said that when he had approached the duo for enrolment, they had allegedly obtained his signatures on blank registration forms, and on 10 other blank sheets.
The Indian Express has learnt that Vasanthan told the BCI that he got his lawyer’s degree in 2012 and could not focus on his enrolment owing to his “father’s hospitalisation”.
In a report submitted by a BCI sub-committee, it was noted this could not be an isolated case, amid concerns over likelihood of “deeper systematic breach”. “…the facts emerging from the present reference disclose the disturbing possibility of a structured and ongoing conspiracy involving intermediaries/touts and a staff member of the BCD, operating to secure enrolments on the basis of forged law degrees, mark sheets and other academic records,” it underlined.
The committee added, “The present case appears not to be an isolated case but it is indicative of a deeper systemic breach in the enrolment process and the possibility of many more enrolments in this fraudulent manner cannot be ruled out.”
On November 23, an FIR was registered based on the complaint of BCD Secretary Colonel Arun Sharma at Hauz Khas police station against Yadav and Panchal. According to the FIR, Yadav “demanded and received substantial sums of money from Vasanthan to facilitate his enrolment with the BCD, based on an allegedly forged LLB degree and mark sheets”. These actions, states the FIR, “were reportedly carried out in collusion with Panchal”. An FIR had already been lodged against Vasanthan for procuring an enrollment on the basis of an alleged fake degree.
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Meanwhile, after the registration of FIR against him, Yadav quickly sought anticipatory bail before Additional Sessions Judge Vivek Kumar Gulia of Saket Court. He was represented by advocate Ajayinder Singh, former BCD Honorary Secretary.
During the proceedings, it was pointed out to the court that as per an inquiry conducted by the BCD, the documents of Bundelkhand University — produced for the registration of Vasanthan — were fake. Vasanthan, however, claimed that he had handed over “original documents of (Uttar Pradesh-based) Indian Institute of Professional Studies” to Yadav. He alleged that Yadav and Panchal facilitated his “illegal enrolment” and filed a complaint against them in BCD. He also expressed willingness to surrender his enrolment certificate.
While opposing Yadav’s bail, Delhi Police told the court that the allegations were serious in nature and Yadav’s custodial interrogation was needed for a detailed investigation “to ascertain the manner of forgery”, “the role of co-accused” and to find out the “trail of the alleged bribe paid”.
However, the Additional Sessions Judge granted Yadav interim relief till December 23. “It is clear that at present, the only incriminating evidence against applicant (Yadav) is the statement of co-accused J Vasanthan given in the inquiry proceedings conducted by the BCD. Admittedly, no notice has been given to any of the accused to join the investigation. The Investigating Officer has also mentioned that alleged forged documents are yet to be received from the office of Bar Council of Delhi…no effective investigation has happened till date…,” said ASJ Gulia in his order dated November 27.
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A police officer said that the investigation in the matter is underway. “The court has granted protection from arrest, but we can question him (Yadav). We will present our findings before the court during the next hearing.”
A BCD member, on the condition of anonymity, pointed out “this is the first time that the name of a BCD employee has come up in facilitating a fake degree even as cases of fake degrees have come up earlier too. “He has been warned earlier due to dubious behavior,” the member added.
