The family members of rights activist Binayak Sen, sentenced by a trial court to life imprisonment for sedition, was happy that prominent lawyer Ram Jethmalani has offered to defend him.
The family members of rights activist Binayak Sen, sentenced by a trial court to life imprisonment for sedition, was happy that prominent lawyer Ram Jethmalani has offered to defend him.
"When an advocate of the stature of Ram Jethmalani has offered his professional help to defend Sen, it proves that there are flaws in the verdict," the activist's 84-year-old ailing mother Anasua Sen said here in Nadia district.
"It is a matter of great luck for me. I am grateful to him (Jethmalani)," she said.
If Sen seeks his professional assistance, "I will do it for him. I will be very happy to fight for him.... Personally, I think the case is weak. I think Sen has been wrongly convicted." Jethmalani had said in New Delhi yesterday.
However, "which lawyer would appear to fight for my son will be decided by his wife Ilina and other members of our family in Raipur," Anasua added.
Ilina too expressed happiness over Jethmalani's offer, but could not immediately confirm whether the veteran lawyer's assistance would be sought.
"I am happy for his intention but I have to discuss the issue with others as I have given the case to other lawyers already," she told PTI over phone from Raipur.
Ilina said they would move the High Court after January 3 against the trial court verdict.
Sen, Naxal ideologue Narayan Sanyal and Kolkata-based businessman Piyush Guha were sentenced to life imprisonment by a Raipur court on December 24 for sedition and colluding with Maoists to establish a network to fight the state.
Sen, 58, a paediatrician by training, had been accused by the prosecution of carrying messages and letters from Sanyal to Maoists. Guha was also found involved in helping Maoists establish a network.
Binayak, an activist of the People's Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), was arrested on May 14, 2007 from Bilaspur.
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