Advocate Pradeep Gharat, the special public prosecutor in actor Salman Khan’s hit-and-run case in the sessions court, has kicked up a controversy following his sexist reply to a Facebook post on a female civil judge being caught while allegedly accepting a bribe. Claiming that such female judges are a “stigma to the system,” Mr Gharat demanded harsh punishment for them.
Rachna Tiwari Lakhanpal, civil judge of Delhi’s Tis Hazari court, was arrested a few days ago for allegedly accepting a bribe. Following her arrest, a lawyer had posted the link of an article on Lakhanpal over Facebook. Commenting on the post, Mr Gharat wrote, “Such shameless judges, particularly females, are stigma to the system. Very harsh action is required against such persons. Curb is also required on very close relatives practising in the same court, engaging them in delicate matters by seniors even though they may be juniors, treatment to them of more than seniors. This is also corruption.”
When contacted, Mr Gharat refused to comment on his post and claimed it was a personal post. “Women, when they turn corrupt, can go to any extent,” he said.
Mr Gharat further said that he had come across many cases wherein he had seen senior counsels hiring junior advocates only because they are related to some or the other judge. “Senior counsels hire junior advocates only because they are related to one of the judges in the court. This should be curbed too,” he said. In May 2015, actor Salman Khan was convicted by the sessions court in the 2012 hit-and-run case. Mr Gharat represented the government. However, the high court later acquitted Mr Khan.
