Kaya's lawyer files complaint

AHMEDABAD: The issue of humiliation of the British national, Kaya Eldridge, in an open court by defence lawyer has ultimately reached the Gujarat Bar Council. Her advocate has filed a complaint accusing advocate Sanjay Prajapati of professional misconduct before the lawyers' body.
Eldridge was allegedly molested in August end by a plumber Pragnesh Chhatrada and she later lodged a criminal complaint against him.A trial commenced against the accused before a metropolitan magistrate, and the British national was called to depose.
On September 15, Eldridge was cross-examined by the defence lawyer who put embarrassing questions before her in an open court. Prajapati also made some adverse comments regarding women in general, which was opposed by Eldridge's lawyer Meena Jagtap.
A representation was also made before the Gujarat High Court, and Chief Justice KS Radhakrishnan sought a report on the incident asking the chief metropolitan magistrate to check how the concerned magistrate allowed the trial to take place in open court and the circumstances that led the victim to feel humiliated.
Meanwhile, a complaint was filed in the Bar Council by advocate Jagtap demanding suspension of advocate Prajapati, but was rejected on the ground that the application lacked details as the name of complainant was also not mentioned in it. Finally, Jagtap filed a detailed complaint in the Bar Council demanding disciplinary action against Prajapati under Section 35 of the Advocates Act.
Jagtap has contended that Prajapati's comment accusing Eldridge of levelling false charges against his client has tarnished the image of the entire nation. While cross-examining the girl, Prajapati told the court, "If I were a woman and behaved in her (complainant) manner, I would send a man to jail daily." This comment had disrupted the proceeding and the magistrate also had taken the remark on record immediately.
Advocate Anil Kella, an office bearer in the Bar Association, said that the Bar would decide on this complaint during its next general meeting.