Jethmalani wants transfer of Jessica case

He points to reports of Manu Sharma’s men approaching the judge

NEW DELHI: Noted criminal lawyer Ram Jethmalani, who is once again in the arc light after having taken up the case of Manu Sharma, the prime accused in the Jessica Lall murder case, has approached the high court pleading for transfer of the case from the court of Justice R S Sodhi.

Jethmalani said his action was following a media report that said Manu Sharma had approached Justice Sodhi and tried to influence him.

“There was a newspaper article accusing Manu Sharma of trying to influence Justice Sodhi. Manu Sharma will be acquitted, no matter what the press or the police say. Then people will say he was acquitted because the judge was corrupt,” Jethmalani said.

In his application, he also targeted the media saying a vicious media campaign and trial was going against his client Manu Sharma. The court issued a notice on Jethmalani’s application to the state and fixed the matter for hearing on Tuesday.

Justice RS Sodhi heads the bench which is hearing the police appeal against acquittals of the nine accused in Jessica case. Justice P K Bhasin is the other judge on the bench. Taking up Manu’s defense Jethmalani had argued before the bench that his client was not even in the party. He had said his client is innocent and he will prove the case to be a big zero.