'Bench hunting' case: Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana panel issues notice to two more advocates

The Privilege Committee of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana has issued notices to two more advocates in its ongoing probe into “Bench hunting” at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

In an order passed on Wednesday, the committee, headed by Raj Kumar Chauhan, stated that in view of the new facts and record available with it, notices were issued to advocates Vijay Aggarwal and Ekta Yadav, directing them to appear along with their detailed replies on the next date of hearing, which was August 31.

The committee stated that Siddharath Bhardwaj, who was among the advocates issued notices in the case, appeared in person and filed his reply. He stated that he had been working as a retainer with Analyst Law Associates, Delhi, headed by Aggarwal since 2023. He submitted that he was instructed by Aggarwal to appear before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, as he himself had been appearing on behalf of Roop Bansal and others before the High Court as well as before the District Court, Panchkula, in matters concerning M3M India Pvt Ltd.

Bhardwaj also produced a copy of an email sent by Ekta Yadav on August 18 this year, wherein instructions were given to assist in matters pending before the High Court along with trial court records as and when required.

Bhardwaj informed the committee that he had been receiving instructions in cases pertaining to M3M from a legal team headed by Gulshan Sachdeva and Ekta Yadav. He stated that all drafting, vetting and filing of petitions concerning M3M were undertaken by Aggarwal, Sachdeva and Ekta Yadav and that different advocates were engaged only at their behest.

The committee stated that in view of the new facts and record available with it, notices were issued to Aggarwal and Ekta Yadav to appear before it on the next date of hearing and file detailed replies. The order stated that a fresh notice was issued to Sachdeva for August 31 as he did not appear before it as directed earlier.