The Congress’ Legal Liability

On Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for cases that go against his party’s position

On 28 September 2010, Kerala Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala and PT Thomas, travelling from Delhi to Kochi, noticed Abhishek Manu Singhvi on the same aircraft as them. Singhvi is a party spokesper­son at the Centre and they were surprised that no one had informed them of his visit. On being asked the purpose of his visit, Singhvi casually said it was a mere stopover at Kochi on the way to Bangalore. Later, Thomas overheard Singhvi talking on the phone, and figured out the real reason. As a senior lawyer, Singhvi was representing Megha Distributors, the promoter of Bhutan and Sikkim Lotteries, in Kerala. This was at a time when the Congress was running a campaign against the CPM-led government for being ‘hand in glove’ with Megha Distributors. Thomas tried to talk Singhvi out of taking the case as it would tarnish the party’s image, but failed. 

Singhvi managed to get a ruling in favour of his client. He was later, as Thomas had forseen, forced to withdraw—following a public outcry in Kerala. Singhvi’s claim that his appearance was for the Bhutan government and not for Megha also turned out false. The drama ended with the Congress temporarily ejecting Singhvi from the spokes­person’s chair.

For the Kerala Congress, Singhvi is a strange bugbear. He turns up in a lawyer’s gown to argue for people against whom the Congress has publicly taken a stand. Lately he has again antagonised the party in Kerala by appearing in the Supreme Court for the producers of the pesticide endosulphan. He is, in effect, arguing that the pesticide does no harm, whereas the Kerala Congress has for years been saying it is disastrous.

The state Congress is embarrassed but does not know how to handle Singhvi. “He should not have done it,” says KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala. Last year, Singhvi had triggered another controversy by advising Dow Chemicals not to bear the liabilities of Union Carbide Corporation in the Bhopal tragedy. He did the same in Andhra Pradesh last year by representing Monsanto Corporation against the state Congress government. Monsanto had challenged the government’s authority to fix the ‘trait price’ (royalty) of Bt cotton seeds.

“I never mix my profession with politics,” is Singhvi’s refrain on all such occasions. But at some point, he will have to decide which is more important for him—his public life or his career in a gown.

About The Author

Shahina KK