Harish Salve to represent ED in case against Sterling Biotech for Re 1

NEW DELHI: Harish Salve, considered India’s highest-paid lawyer, will charge only Re 1 to represent the Enforcement Directorate in a court case involving alleged money laundering by Sterling Biotech Ltd, although he will likely miss out on a chance to battle it out with rival and former Attorney General of India Mukul Rohatgi.

Sterling Biotech of the Vadodara-based Sandesera Group is being probed by the ED for allegedly violating provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). “This case involves an important question of law and PMLA is under challenge in court. ED had requested me to take it up. Well, important government matters, I handle pro bono,” Salve told ET.

“We had requested Mr Salve to represent us in this case. He agreed to charge a fee Re 1 only,” a senior ED official said. This case is being treated as highly sensitive by the enforcement and investigative agencies as it has “substantial revenue implications running into thousands of crores,” according to a vigilance report available with the Central Board of Direct Taxes.

This is the second time in recent months that Salve has waived his usual fee while representing the government. Salve defended former Indian navy commander Kulbhushan Jadhav in the International Court of Justice against the death penalty awarded by Pakistan. In this case, too, Salve had charged Re 1as his fee.

Barely a month later, Rohatgi stepped down as AGI in June and returned to private practice. Until recently, he had represented the Sandesara Group. “I had appeared for Sandesera Group just once, but I don’t have time now,” Rohatgi told ET, without elaborating. One of the cases against Sterling Biotech involves an alleged default of over Rs 5,000 crore by the company.