AG calls Memon a 'traitor', has a spat with senior lawyer

Image
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Jul 29 2015 | 7:42 PM IST
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi and senior advocate T R Andhyarujina today had heated exchanges at the fag end of the hearing on the plea of Yakub Abdul Razak Memon when the former questioned the latter's locus to argue the case, calling the convict a "traitor".
"You have no right to intervene," the Attorney General said when Andhyarujina started advancing rejoinder arguments in favour of Memon's plea after the lawyer for the convict had finished the submissions.
Reacting to this, Andhyarujina said "the mercy plea is not a matter of grace. It is rather constitutional right of the convict" and Memon "cannot be hanged tomorrow at 7:00 AM" without him exhausting all remedies.
"His mercy petition (before Maharashtra Governor) is still pending... How can that be? He cannot be hanged with his mercy plea still pending," the usually calm senior lawyer said.
Rohatgi shot back "it is not the matter of adjudication here."
Andhyarujina then referred to the fundamental rights of the condemned convict and said his life was "hanging through a thread" and his efforts to win life till the last breath should not be mocked.
"What about the rights of the 257 persons (who died in blasts) and several hundreds who got injured," the AG asked and called Memon a "traitor" saying "the Supreme Court says so in its judgement".
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jul 29 2015 | 7:42 PM IST

Next Story