Bar Council ponders action over Nirbhaya defence lawyer's statement

The Bar Council of India is pondering action over the controversial statements made by the defence counsel of the accused in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape case.

The lawyer in question, ML Sharma, allegedly said that he would 'torch' his daughter if she were to stay out beyond a certain time at night.

"A meeting has been called to discuss the statement of the defence lawyers of Nirbhaya case accused. Outside the court, if a case is formed against them for their statements, then action needs to be taken," Bar Council chairman MK Mishra told ANI.

Meanwhile, Sharma stood by his statement, though he maintained that the statements were made in a 'general' context.

"All the statements that I made were said in a general context, not in the context of the Nirbhaya case. However, if the Bar Council decides to cancel my license, it won't affect me. I will keep helping people," he said.

On December 16, 2012, six men gang-raped and killed 23-year-old girl on board a moving bus in the national capital, an incident that sparked protests across the country.