India’s Daughter: Lawyer in December 16 rape documentary denies charges

New Delhi: Advocate M.L. Sharma on Monday denied in the Supreme Court that he made derogatory comments against women in the BBC documentary, India’s Daughter relating to December 16 Delhi gangrape incident.

Advocate Sharma told a bench of Justices V. Gopala Gowda and C. Nagappan that he was yet to receive the notice issued on the petition filed by Women Lawyers Association seeking a direction to bar the entry into the apex court of two lawyers — Mr Sharma and  A.P. Singh — for their derogatory remarks against women in the documentary.

Mr Sharma said every woman, married or unmarried was like his mother and he respected women and he denied that he made any derogatory remark against women in the documentary. “I apologise to them and let them punish me if I am wrong. I am prepared to settle the issue with the Association,” he said.

The bench, after hearing counsel Mahalakshmi for the Association, asked him to file his response in two weeks. The bench listed the matter for further hearing on May 5. The Association in its petition sought a direction that the action of the two advocates be referred to the Supreme Court.