An advocate who was part of the Supreme Court hearing in the RG Kar rape and murder case on Friday put out a social media denying that the Bengal government is paying for the 21 lawyers led by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal who appeared for the state.
Astha Sharma, whose bio on the professional networking site says she is 2nd Advocate on Record, Supreme Court of India, and partner, dispute resolution, AQUILAW, wrote a lengthy post on LinkedIn slamming people who “believe every random post”.
Her denial comes at a time social media platforms are filled with posts saying the Bengal government has the money to pay for an army of lawyers to defend its actions in the case that has shocked and outraged Calcutta and the country.
“I got a lot of hate when the office I was working with represented the Family of the minor victim in the Kathua Rape Case, for being a “Hindu”; In the last week I’ve again received a lot of hate and trolling for appearing for the Kolkata Police, who by the way aren’t the accused in the present case,” Sharma wrote in her LinkedIn post.
“This time I’m at fault for being a woman and appearing against the victim and denying her justice.
“The irony- the haters/trollers want me and the female members in my team to suffer the same fate as the victim, the one they are apparently seeking justice for. That’s the world we live in.
“And all this because we are professionally representing a client, that’s it,” she wrote.
She categorically denied allegations that chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s government is paying for 21 lawyers.
“Oh and also for the one’s who believe every random post and are sharing the order that West Bengal Govt. has the funds to pay 21 lawyers, and needed an army of lawyers to save its skin- please note that the clients engage and pays a single lawyer. Our teams who helps us to execute the matter are paid by us, and if they’ve worked on a matter, it’s only fair to have their name in the order and acknowledge their efforts, no matter how big or small they are,” she wrote.
“In the last one week- while you all chose to stand with the victim asking for justice for her, and how work places should be safe for women- you have all subjected the 9 women who were at their workplace with nothing but threats, harassment and hatred.
“In the end, I along with my entire team also want that the victim gets justice and the laws against rape and sexual harassment are strengthened to act as a deterrent and that no woman, no matter where she is, who she is with, what she wears, she eats or she says, has to live her life in constant fear!" she concluded.
