MUMBAI: Senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani on Friday admitted to being a “sinner”.

 At a function at the Bombay High Court to unveil a portrait of lawyer Nari Gursahani, Jethmalani said, “It is better to be a genuine sinner than a counterfeit saint”.

Defending his decision to represent Jessica Lal’s alleged killer Manu Sharma, Jethmalani said that it is a lawyer’s duty to defend an accused.

Speaking highly of Gursahani, who passed away in 2004, Jethmalani said the senior lawyer gave his services readily and no one who came to him was turned away because he could not afford the fees.

Gursahani’s portrait was unveiled by Justice HL Gokhale. Other judges including Justice Abhay Oka, Justice Ranjana Desai and former Justice VP Tipnis were also present.