Journalism of Courage
The two suspects in the rape and murder of BPO employee Jyotikumari Chaudhari Purshottam Borate and Pradeep Kokate submitted before the district and sessions court that they want to continue the services of the alleged fake lawyer Mahendra Kawchale,who was recently arrested by the police for representing clients without possessing recognized law degree.
The suspect submitted their plea before the principal district and sessions judge Anant Badar on Friday that should be permitted to continue Kawchale to represent them for the trail.
It may be recalled that the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa had suspended Kawchale’s sanad on May 10 for allegedly submitted forged documents.
Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam filed a plea that Kawchale did not have a sanad for practising as a lawer.
Nikam’s pleas stated that Kawchale had filed vakalatnama for representing Borate on March 5 and December 20,2009 and for representing Kokate on November 2,2009,and both times he did not have sanad. Nikam prayed that accused should be asked whether they want to appoint a new lawyer for the case. It was then that the accused submitted their plea that as per Section 303 of the Criminal Procedure Code and 32 of the Advocates Act,they are entitled to take up services a person of their choice even though the person is not a lawyer. The suspects mentioned in their plea that they believe in Kawchale as he followed their instructions and represented them properly in the case.
Judge Badar then directed Nikam to file his say on Saturday. Meanwhile,Kawchale was not present at the court during the hearing of the case.
