Poonam Chand Solanki is an Indian advocate, practicing in the Rajasthan High Court, Jodhpur. He acted as the advocate of a 16-year-old girl who was raped by an asaram masquerading as a deity, winning a conviction against Asaram Bapu in a Jodhpur trial court on 25 April 2018; Asaram Bapu was convicted under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO).
Wiki/Biography
Poonam Chand Solanki, also known as PC Solanki , was born in 1973 (age 50 years; in 2023) in Jodhpur City, Rajasthan, India. He did his schooling at the Central School (now known as KV No.1 Air Force School, Jodhpur). He attended Jai Narayan Vyas University (JNVU), Jodhpur, to pursue his B.Com and LL.M. After graduating in law, Poonam Chand joined the Rajasthan Bar Council in 1996. Although Poonam Chand Solanki belonged to a financially weak family, her parents ensured that all their children got a good education.
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 8″
Hair Color: Salt & Pepper (dyed black)
Eye Color: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
Poonam Chand Solanki’s father, Shiv Ram Solanki (Kheraj Ram Solanki), is a former railway mechanic. His mother’s name is Aichuki Devi. He has three younger sisters.
Poonam Chand Solanki with her mother
Wife & Children
Poonam Chand Solanki is married and has a son.
religion
He is a Hindu.
Caste
He belongs to a Darzi (tailor) family.
Career
Affiliated with the Rajasthan Bar Council in 1996, Poonam Chand Solanki started practicing law in the sessions court in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. After fighting several ordinary cases, the first big moment came in his life in 2002, when he filed a PIL in the Rajasthan High Court against the immersion of an idol of Lord Ganesha, made up of Plaster of Paris, at Gulab Sagar near historic Ghantaghar. In the petition, he argued that the immersion of the idol polluted the water, which resulted in the death of thousands of fish in Gulab Sagar. While hearing the petition, the Rajasthan High Court imposed a ban on immersion of idols in the lake. Poonam Chand received several threats from Shiv Sena and other Hindu outfits in this matter. Having a career spanning two decades in advocacy, Solanki has fought several battles in various courtrooms, from trial courts to sessions courts, high courts and the Supreme Court.
Asaram Bapu Rape Case
On 29 November 2013, a case was registered against Asaram Bapu in the Rajasthan High Court, Jodhpur, for raping a minor girl from Chindwara in Madhya Pradesh. Apparently, the parents of the minor girl have deep faith in the asaram deity Bapu. Apparently, when one of Asaram’s disciples told the girl’s parents that she was possessed by an evil spirit and that to exorcise her, they should go to Asaram. When the minor girl’s parents took her to Asaram for treatment, he raped her. Dissatisfied with the initial development of the case, the girl’s parents approached Poonam Chand Solanki in January 2014 to take up the case. In an interview, while talking about the same, Solanki said,
They asked me to take the case but said they didn’t have the money to pay my fees. That doesn’t matter to me at all. After listening to them, I was determined to get justice. Fighting cases is my livelihood but there are times in life when something becomes more important than necessary. I am fighting this case for justice and truth.”
As the case continued, Solanki was ensnared with millions of rupees. However, he remained unaffected. He also received several death threats. However, nothing could stop him from his determination to ensure justice for the minor girl. A total of nine key prosecution witnesses were attacked, three were shot dead, and one disappeared after being stabbed outside the court. Everyone who opposed Asaram – the victim, the investigating police officer, the prosecuting attorney or the judge – received threats. In a media conversation, while talking about not being swayed by Asaram’s threats, Poonam Chand said,
Yes, the threat is there. They want to seduce me. Everything was there but nothing affected me because I just focused on that… Those people had come, some people had said, had done it. Now, what figures can one say. But really, I don’t care about all that. I am only concerned with that matter and only to proceed in accordance with the provisions of the law.”
As the only prosecuting lawyer, he was up against several high-profile lawyers who defended Asaram Bapu. Among the legal advocates who defended Asaram were Ram Jethmalani, Salman Khurshid, Subramanian Swamy, and KTS Tulsi. In an interview, while talking about the same, Solanki said,
Yes, of course, Ram Jethmalani ji appeared to argue Asaram’s bail application under section 4(39) CrPC before the Hon’ble High Court, Subramaniam Swamy appeared to argue his bail application before the Trial Court under section 4(39), then KTS Tulsi appeared before the Court Hearing challenging the amendment of the Special PP on the grounds that her name was not notified in the gazette…”
During the proceedings of the case, Jethmalani withdrew from the case when Solanki pointed him to section 27 of the POCSO ACT. Apparently, Jethmalani had objected to the rape victim’s medical examination before the FIR was registered. However, he was silenced when Solanki argued that either Jethmalani did not go through the POCSO Act or overlooked section 27. After Jethmalani walked out of the case, Subramanian Swamy took up the case; Although Swamy is not a lawyer, he is allowed to argue cases in court by the Supreme Court and the High Court. When Swamy boasts about unearthing many scams and leading many governments, Solanki stops him by mentioning the HS Rastogi case. Solanki argued in court that as per the Supreme Court’s decision in the HS Rastogi case, Asaram had not given any prior information to the court that Swamy would appeal his bail application. Further, he said,
What if the court rejects the bail application and Aaram claims the next day that he did not authorize Swamy to argue his bail petition?”
Soon after, Asaram was brought from jail and an application was submitted to the court. Much to Swamy’s dismay, Asaram’s bail plea was rejected by the court. Swamy, who had earlier boasted that he had not lost a single bail petition in his life, left the case abruptly and he never returned to the case despite promising Asaram that he would return. During one of the hearings of the case, Solanki called former union minister Salman Khursheed who sought bail for Asaram on the grounds of serious illness. However, Solanki persuaded the court to ensure Asaram’s health condition by forming a medical board. The board refuted Asaram’s lie and his bail petition was rejected by the court. The final verdict in the case was passed on 25 April 2018 in favor of the minor girl, finding Asaram and his two friends, Shilpi, the Gurukul warden, and Sharad, the Gurukul director, guilty in the case.
Facts/Trivia
- In her spare time, Poonam Chand enjoys writing books. He has written various law books. He is also passionate about teaching.
- Solanki owns a 2004 model Alto car.
- Solanki considers former Jharkhand High Court Chief Justice Bhagwati Prasad Sharma as his mentor.
- In an interview, Poonam Chand shared that the family of the minor girl (victim of Asaram Bapu Rape Case) had approached her after several lawyers demanded a huge amount to take over their case, and when Solanki came to know about the family’s financial situation, she agreed to fight it for free. . He said,
I did not charge a single cent as a fee to fight the case. As far as expenses are concerned, that was given to me… I went to Delhi eight times. So, whatever the charges related to that, I gave them the details. I had to go to the Supreme Court on short notice. In the High Court, whatever the clerk charge is there, take the certified copy, In the trial Court also, there are many certified copies, almost 7000 – 8000. All the money is there. Otherwise, by way of payment, I don’t charge a cent.”
- On 23 May 2023, a courtroom drama Hindi film titled Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai was released on Zee5, which was based on the Asaram Bapu Rape Case. Manoj Bajpayee portrays Poonam Chand Solanki in the film. The film is helmed by Apoorv Singh Karki and written by Deepak Kingrani. In an interview, while talking about Poonam Chand Solanki’s character in Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, Manoj Bajpayee said,
Portraying the role of PC Solanki in ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’ has been an extraordinary experience as it is an inspiring story of an ordinary man fighting an extraordinary case against all odds for truth and justice. With the trailer out today, I hope it engages the audience and compels them to witness this triumphant story and what it took for PC Solanki to achieve what he did.”
Manoj Bajpayee as Poonam Chand Solanki in a still from Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
