Lawyer gagged for ‘blackmailing’ Adani

The Madras High Court has gagged advocate Kabilan Manoharan from disclosing in any manner the professional communication made to him by AGC until March 14, when the case will be taken up for further hearing. 

As per the case, AGC had engaged Kabilan as a lawyer to verify the title deeds for land proposed to be purchased in Ramnad district for establishing a 648 MW solar plant. AGC had agreed to pay Rs 6,000 per acre to him and has so far paid a sum of Rs 70 lakh as fee. 

Subsequently, the advocate increased his fee from Rs 6,000 per acre to Rs 15,000 and through a letter on January 4, 2016 sought AGC to pay the revised fee of Rs.1.43 crore. Thereafter, by a letter dated January 7, 2016 and through an email on January 11, 2016, he threatened AGC of exposing the infractions committed by its officials, if they refused to pay up. Despite AGC informing him in a reply on January 19 that it had not indulged in any kind of fraud, the advocate had sent as many as four threat letters. In fact, with the last one on February 16 offering a deadline of seven days for the exposé, AGC moved court seeking interim injunction. 

Justice KK Sasidharan who issued notice to Kabilan returnable by March 14, said, “In case, the advocate in the course of his engagement found certain acts within the meaning of the proviso to Section 126 of Evidence Act, he should have taken appropriate action against the applicant in the interest of society. Here, he is threatening to expose the company only to collect his fee, claimed by way of unilaterally enhancing the rate per acre.”