Who is Harish Salve? The lawyer representing Vineesh Phogat in CAS

Famous Indian wrestler Vineesh Phogat was disqualified from the 2024 Olympics on August 7, 2024, due to his excessive weight.

The incident created an uproar among the Indian people, who wanted Phogat to win a medal as she was considered a strong contender.

The incident had an impact on Fugate’s personal and professional life, leading to her retirement from wrestling at such a young age.

However, Phogat has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to be allowed to receive the silver medal. This appeal is her last hope to redeem her reputation and possibly continue her wrestling career with a positive attitude.

Paris Olympics 2024: Harish Salve to take over Vineesh Phogat’s case?

Harish Salvi is a 69-year-old senior lawyer who practices primarily before the Supreme Court of India. He is known for his expertise in constitutional, commercial and tax law and has represented many high-profile clients in landmark cases.

The senior lawyer has taken up Vineesh Phogat’s case and will represent the Indian Olympic Association in the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Salve’s impressive resume and sharp legal acumen make him a sought-after lawyer for complex and high-stakes legal matters. His strategic approach and persuasive arguments have earned him a reputation as one of India’s top lawyers.

Who is Harish Salvi? A look at his most famous cases and achievements

Harish Salvi is a senior Indian lawyer born on 22 June 1955 in a Marathi family. He holds a Chartered Accountant qualification from ICAI and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Nagpur University.

Moreover, former Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde was his classmate. Salvi also served as Attorney General of India from November 1, 1999 to November 3, 2002. Notable cases he handled include:

  • Renowned lawyer Harish Salve gained notoriety for his defence of Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was convicted of espionage and sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court. Salve received just Rs. 1 as legal fee in the case, earning him widespread acclaim.
  • Salve has worked with large clients such as Tata Group, Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries and ITC Group. He was involved in the Krishna Godavari Basin Gas Dispute case, which was heard by Anil Ambani’s Reliance Natural Resources Ltd.
  • In 2012, he represented Vodafone in winning a major tax case against the Indian government for Rs 11,000 crore.
  • He also defended Keshub Mahindra in the Bhopal gas leak incident and represented the Delhi Police in the midnight crackdown on Baba Ramdev supporters.
  • In 2015, Salvi was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honours. In the same year, he successfully represented Salman Khan in his 2002 hit-and-run case, which was acquitted by the Bombay High Court in December 2015.
  • In 2018, Salvi represented the federal government in the Supreme Court in the Caffrey River water dispute. In January last year, he was appointed Queen’s Counsel in the courts of Wales and England.
  • Salvi’s involvement in Vinesh Phogat’s case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which involved her disqualification from the Paris Olympics, underscores the importance and complexity of the case.