A SCINTILLATING COURTROOM DRAMA | AN EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT FROM ROGUES AMONG THE RUINS

The light of the winter day was fading as Subhash waited tensely for Arun Jaitley to arrive in the court hall for the afternoon hearing. He appeared shortly, in elegant legal attire, accompanied by two junior colleagues, who brought a few law volumes in a bag. Everyone in the tribunal court hall looked at the Supreme Court lawyer. He was one of the young luminaries of the party whose government was in power. The bush telegraph of the court corridors spread the message of his presence and the tribunal court hall filled up, even though Subhash’s case was the last on the list. Arun sat next to Subhash. The two judges gave Subhash a swift glance of concern; they wondered how Subhash’s lawyers would ever contend with such a formidable opponent. The judicial member leaned forward to ask the Supreme Court advocate, ‘I take it you, Mr Jaitley, are appearing for the Union government?’ ‘No, your honour,’ Arun Jaitley replied quietly, ‘I am appearing for the applicant, Subhash Chowdhury.’...