NEW DELHI, 4 November 2006 — Seeking to turn the legal tide in favor of prime accused Manu Sharma in the Jessica Lal murder case, noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani moved Delhi High Court yesterday for transfer of the case from Justice R.S. Sodhi’s court.

On Jethmalani’s application, a division bench of Justice Sodhi and Justice P.K. Bhasin issued a notice and fixed the matter for hearing on Tuesday.

In his application, Jethmalani has also sought initiation of contempt proceedings against a newspaper, which reported that in 2002 Justice Sodhi was approached on behalf of prime accused Manu during his bail application.

With the Jessica Lal murder case having drawn the attention of social activists, Jethmalani’s decision to come to the defense of Manu Sharma has shocked not only Jessica’s family members but also his own.

Earlier, Jessica’s sister Sabrina had also approached Jethmalani for advice.

“We had not retained him but had discussed the case with him in detail,” Sabrina said.

Stunned by his becoming Manu’s defense lawyer, she said: “I believe a man of his stature will do the right thing.”

Similar is the mood in Jethmalani’s family. His elder son Mahesh said: “Our entire family is opposed to his defending Manu. We tried to convince him that this was not a case of public importance.”

Refusing to change his decision, Jethmalani said: “Nothing on earth will make me back out of this case. My children think if I take up this case, it will make me unpopular. But I will not refuse a case for such a reason.”