Harish Salve, a renowned senior advocate in the Supreme Court of India, has taken on the case of wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was controversially disqualified from the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Harish Salve, known for his expertise in constitutional, commercial, and taxation laws, is representing Phogat in her appeal against the disqualification at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Who is Harish Salve?
Born in 1955 in Maharashtra, Salve comes from a family with a strong legal background. His father, N.K.P. Salve, was a chartered accountant and prominent politician, while his grandfather, P.K. Salve, was a successful criminal lawyer.
Salve has represented India in several high-profile cases, including the Kulbhushan Jadhav case at the International Court of Justice in 2017, where he secured a temporary stay on Jadhav’s execution by a Pakistani military court.
Known for his legal acumen and commanding presence in the courtroom, Salve has handled cases involving prominent individuals such as Salman Khan, Ratan Tata, and Arnab Goswami.
According to reports on Harish Salve per case fees, he is considered one of the most expensive lawyers in India, charging a reported fee of Rs. 15 million per day.
Harish Salve in Vinesh Phogat’s Case
Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the women’s 50kg freestyle event at the Paris 2024 Olympics after being found 100 grams overweight during her second weigh-in, just before the gold medal bout.
Salve, along with co-counsel Vidushpat Singhania, is representing Vinesh Phogat in her appeal to the CAS, seeking to overturn the disqualification and requesting a joint silver medal for her performance leading up to the final.
The hearing, initially scheduled for August 9, 2024, was delayed and is now set to take place at 5:30 PM IST. A verdict is expected by August 11, 2024, before the end of the Olympic Games.
Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification has sparked outrage among the Indian sports community, who believe she deserves recognition for her achievements in the earlier rounds of the competition.
Harish Salve’s involvement in Vinesh Phogat’s case underscores the gravity of the situation and the importance of securing top legal representation to ensure a fair outcome.
