Devil’s Advocate continues ………….

He was our last chance. When we entered his office, a modest workplace, one look at the middle-aged unassuming man convinced me that we had come to the right place. He greeted us politely and lent us a sympathetic ear as we shared the details of our case with him and requested him to defend us. After hearing us out, he consented to appear for us on one condition. We had to first convince him that the firing by the police at INA market had indeed been necessary.

Several briefings followed after this first meeting wherein I, along with my officers, struggled to justify our actions with evidence, legal provisions and police rules. The lawyer grilled us for hours, often making us feel frustrated and dejected. We felt guilty even without a trial. But, like any competent lawyer, he did his due diligence to convince himself that he was defending a police action that was necessary and justified. Finally, he informed us he was ready to represent us in court. The hearings in the PIL went on for months. On the days of important hearings, I would make it a point to be present in the court. To see Gurcharan Singh take on the advocates appearing against us and give them a run for their money was to witness court craft at its very best. Whenever I couldn’t attend court, Gurcharan Singh would drive down to my office after the hearings and brief me on the proceedings of the day. When I was unavailable, he would call me to keep me updated. Over a period of time, despite the years between us, Gurcharan Singh and I forged a close bond of friendship
and mutual respect.

To be Continued ………….