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Iqbal Chagla Passes Away At 86: The Legal Luminary And Champion Of Human Rights

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Senior advocate Iqbal Chagla, 86, passed away on Sunday afternoon after a period of ill health. The son of Mahommedali Currim Chagla, the first Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court of independent India, he leaves behind a remarkable legacy in the legal fraternity.

Chagla, father of sitting Bombay High Court judge, Justice Riyaz Chagla, served as the president of the Bombay Bar Association (BBA) three times.

Born in 1939, he earned an MA in History and Law from Cambridge University before beginning his practice at the Bombay High Court. He trained under the renowned Kharshedji Hormasji Bhabha and was designated a Senior Advocate in 1979. Between 1990 and 1999, he served as the BBA president and held other prominent roles, including as a Member of the Executive Committee of the Bar Association of India and the National Legal Services Authority (NLSA).

Despite being offered a judgeship thrice — twice by the Bombay High Court and once by the Supreme Court — Chagla declined, potentially forfeiting an opportunity to become the Chief Justice of India.

During his tenure as BBA president, Chagla played a pivotal role in calling for the resignation of four Bombay HC judges over allegations of impropriety. The BBA passed a resolution under his leadership, resulting in some judges resigning and others being transferred.

Chagla was highly regarded for his expertise in civil litigation, company law, and international arbitration. Known for his integrity and gentle demeanor, he was a sought-after counsel who often argued complex and high-profile cases.

BBA president Nitin Thakker described Chagla as a stalwart of the legal fraternity and a champion of human rights. “He has been an inspiration for so many young lawyers due to his court demeanor, his fairness and his integrity. He has been a champion of defending human rights and a fierce fighter for upholding rule of law. Above all he was a gentleman and a great human being. Bombay Bar Association has lost a stalwart and his loss is immense.”

Former BBA president Rajiv Chavan lauded Chagla’s legal brilliance and sportsmanship. “He was an outstanding lawyer, humane, and a cricket enthusiast. His loss will be deeply felt in the legal community and beyond. Despite his perfectionism, he was always kind and approachable.” Reminiscing how, Chagla had been kind to him, Chavan said the late senior advocate guided and inspired everyone to achieve greater things. 

The BBA issued a statement mourning Chagla’s demise: “Mr. I.M. Chagla’s contributions to the legal field are immeasurable. His dedication, integrity, and excellence have inspired generations of legal professionals. We extend our condolences to his family in this difficult time.”

Chagla’s funeral will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 13, 2025, at the Worli Crematorium in Mumbai.

Notable Cases 

Chagla represented Nestlé India during the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) ban on Maggi noodles, successfully arguing for the export of the product despite the ban in the Indian market.

He also handled the high-profile legal dispute between corporate lawyers Cyril and Shardul Shroff over their mother’s will, leading to the amicable division of their firm, Amarchand Mangaldas, into two entities.

In 2004, he represented Dr. Anahita Pandole in a pioneering Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against illegal hoardings in Mumbai.

After the 26/11 terror attacks, Chagla, representing the Society of Indian Law Firms, filed a PIL seeking the establishment of a Citizens Coordination Committee to monitor and advise on safety measures in Mumbai.

A towering figure in Indian law, Iqbal Chagla will be remembered for his legal acumen, unwavering integrity, and his dedication to upholding the rule of law.

Maharashtra

In the Nawab Malik and Hasinia Parker case, the accused was arrested for cheating in the name of digital arrest

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Mumbai: Police have arrested an accused who had deposited Rs 15 lakh in a bank account by threatening to arrest former minister Nawab Malik and Dawood Ibrahim’s sister Haseena Parker in the money laundering case. He had called Delhi Police headquarters and said that there was a money laundering case against the complainant and that his account details had been used in the transactions of Nawab Malik and Haseena Parker, so he needs to be investigated and he is a digital arrestee. The caller had identified himself as DSP Bhupesh Kumar and SP Gopesh Kumar over the phone, after which the police registered a case of fraud. The complainant was also given a fake arrest warrant from the CBI, on which his name was also mentioned, and was instructed to deposit Rs 15 lakh for verification of the funds. This amount was deposited in a Federal Bank account, out of which Rs 5 lakh was transferred to the Bank of Baroda. The details of the accused were found out from the account hold and then the police arrested the accused from Sangli district. He was identified as Vikas Sambhaji Chavan. The accused was arrested and presented in court. A criminal case has also been registered against the accused in Mumbai and Rajasthan. This action was carried out by Joint Police Commissioner Lakshmi Gautam and DCP Parshottam Karad on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti. The police have appealed that there is no law called digital arrest and the CBI, ED and any agency cannot make digital arrest and no law in the Indian Constitution allows for digital arrest. No, that’s why people should be careful.

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Maharashtra

Waris Pathan knows what Nitesh Rane is doing. Nitesh Rane’s threat to Pathan.

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Mumbai: Maharashtra BJP leader and minister Nitesh Rane once again spewed venom against Muslims and said that this is not his father’s Pakistan and Karachi but a Hindu Rashtra and a government of Deva Bhau, in such a situation, if anyone tries to disrupt the order and atmosphere, he will be given a response. Nitesh Rane targeted AIMIM national chief Asaduddin Owaisi and said that the place where Owaisi’s rally was held is not Ahmednagar but Ahlia Nagar. The government has changed the names of Ahmednagar and Aurangabad, despite this, people avoid calling Ahmednagar Ahlia Nagar and Aurangabad Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. Such people do not follow the Constitution of India but follow Sharia. He said that if Owaisi tries to disrupt the atmosphere of the state, the government will be forced to consider whether to give him permission to hold a rally or not because he comes here for his political rally.

Threatening Advocate Waris Pathan, Nitesh Rane said that Waris Pathan knows what Nitesh Rane is. He said that Waris Pathan should fix the time and place, Nitesh Rane will definitely come, then we will know what will happen. Nitesh Rane, while showing provocation against Muslims, said that when the idol of our gods and goddesses is desecrated and subjected to violence, where does brotherhood go and where does the Constitution of India go then? He said that if anyone tries to disturb the peace of the state, then he should know that here is the Hindutva Valley government of Devendra Fadnavis.

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Maharashtra

Anti-drug rally of Govindi Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi

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Mumbai: A massive anti-drug rally was taken out today under the leadership of Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi to draw attention to the serious problem of drug addiction and illegal drug trade in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar assembly constituency and to create public awareness against it.

Thousands of workers and local citizens participated in the rally. Protesters took to the streets and demanded strict action against the illegal drug trade and appealed to the youth to stay away from drugs.
The main objective of the rally was to free the youth of the area from the clutches of drugs and to put pressure on the administration to stop this illegal trade. Abu Asim Azmi himself led the rally and stressed the need for immediate and strict action against the drug problem in the area. Not only party workers but also a large number of mothers, sisters, young and old citizens of the area participated in the demonstration, highlighting the seriousness of the problem.

The drug problem in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency has been a topic of discussion for many years and it is badly affecting the lives of local citizens. By organizing this rally, MLA Azmi has once again shown his determination to solve this important problem faced by the citizens of his constituency. Speaking on the occasion, MLA Abu Asim Azmi warned the administration: “Immediate and strict action should be taken against those involved in the illegal drug trade, otherwise the Samajwadi Party and the local citizens will intensify the protest.” The rally proved to be an important rally in drawing attention to the social and health problems of the Mankhurdshivaji Nagar area.

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