R Shanmugasundaram is new advocate-general of Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: The DMK’s former Rajya Sabha member and designated senior advocate, R Shanmugasundaram is the new advocate-general of Tamil Nadu. The veteran prosecutor had served as

state public prosecutor

from 1996 to 2001.

This is the first of a series of appointment of law officers to be made in Tamil Nadu in coming weeks, to represent the newly elected DMK government before the high court, other courts and tribunals.

Once the Raj Bhavan releases the order, a formal GO will be issued by the government, said sources, adding that he is likely to assume charge immediately. A swearing in is also expected on Monday.

Even as the official announcement is expected anytime now, lawyers recalled the murderous attack unleashed on Shanmugasundaram on the night of May 30, 1995 at his Kilpauk house, while he was preparing a complaint against the then chief minister Jayalalithaa for impropriety and corruption. While Shanmugasundaram suffered deep cuts on hands and one of his fingers got chopped off, two of his junior advocates also suffered injuries.

The attack led to a prolonged agitation by lawyers lasting three weeks. Madras high court later handed over the case to the CBI, and six of the assailants were sentenced to life by a special court later.

A second generation lawyer born in

Tirunelveli

in October 1953, Shanmugasundaram was among the distinguished juniors of the legendary senior lawyer N Natarajan. His father S Rajagopal was public prosecutor and special prosecutor for CBI in

Madurai

. Shanmugasundaram was prosecutor since 1989, and has represented the government before several forums, including MC Jain Commission of inquiry which probed the Rajiv Gandhi assassination. He served as state public prosecutor from June 1996 to May 2001. He was designated as senior advocate in 2000, and was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2002 for a full six-year term.

Shanmugasundaram has given scores of lectures in judicial academy, colleges, universities and international conferences, in addition to papers in Commonwealth Law Conference in Hongkong.

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