CHENNAI: The criminal proceedings launched against an advocate by the Nungambakkam police, pursuant to the registration of an FIR on November 28 last, have been stayed by the Madras HC.
Justice M S Ramesh granted the injunction on Wednesday while passing interim orders on a criminal original petition from advocate K Gowthaman of Kodambakkam.
Following a complaint from S Reha Banu, an accused in the 2G spectrum case, in which former Union minister A Raja is allegedly involved, the Numgambakkam police have registered the FIR for offences under various sections of the IPC, including 506-1 (criminal intimidation).
The woman had complained that she engaged the services of advocate S Kumar to help her sort out the financial transactions. The advocate had, on one pretext or the other, collected `50 lakh from her so far. When she refused to part with any more amount, his assistant Gouthaman visited Banu’s house on various occasions and threatened her for more money, she had alleged.
The petitioner contended that the complaint was false, malicious, frivolous and vexatious. It has been lodged with a view to harassing the petitioner and to tarnish his image. Mere demand for legal fees for the services rendered cannot be in any manner termed as extortion, he added.
Hefty fee?
Woman contended that the lawyer had taken `50 lakh as fee till date. When she refused to give more, he threatened her through an assistant, she claimed. Lawyer reasoned that demand for legal fee for service was not extortion.