Abhay Bharadwaj, RS member succumbs to nCov

Rajkot: Leading criminal lawyer and BJP Rajya Sabha member, Abhay Bharadwaj (66), succumbed to a three-month battle against the complications of Covid-19 infection, at a hospital in Chennai on Tuesday.
Bharadwaj had tested positive on August 31 and was airlifted to Chennai in October after his condition deteriorated. He was also put on artificial lung support.
Bharadwaj’s cousin Kashyap Shukla told reporters, “We are making arrangements to get clearance for bringing his body to Rajkot.His cremation will be done here.” Bharadwaj was elected to the Upper House in June along with Sabarkantha’s Ramila Bara.
A lawyer by profession and former member of law commission of India, Bharadwaj is survived by a son, two daughters and wife.
Advocate Tushar Gokani, who worked with him for nearly two decades said, “He had a cardiac arrest on Tuesday noon and died in the evening.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mourned his demise. “Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, Shri Abhay Bharadwaj Ji was a distinguished lawyer and remained at the forefront of serving society. It is sad we have lost a bright and insightful mind, passionate about national development. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti,” the PM wrote on Twitter.
Expressing grief at his death, chief minister Vijay Rupani said, “Abhaybhai’s demise is a big personal loss to me as well as the party. He was a very good lawyer and committed to the country and society.”
Born on April 2, 1954 in Uganda, his family shifted to Rajkot in 1969 and he began his political career with Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of BJP.
He was the defense lawyer in the 2002 Gulbarg Society massacre and represented 69 accused pro-bono.
He represented the Wildlife Trust of India’s PIL challenging translocation of lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh. Bharadwaj was appointed public prosecutor in high-profile murder case of former BJP MLA Jayanti Bhanushali.