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

Vineesh Phogat, a prominent and talented Indian wrestler, was disqualified on August 7, 2024, from the 2024 Olympic Games for being overweight in her designated weight class. 

This event sparked a furor among the Indian citizens who were hopeful for a medal from Phogat, as she was considered a strong contender. 

This incident has affected Phogat both personally and professionally, which has caused her to retire from wrestling at such a young age. 

However, Phogat has petitioned the Court of Arbitration for Sport to allow her to receive a silver medal. This appeal is her last hope to salvage her reputation and potentially continue her wrestling career on a positive note. 

Paris Olympics 2024: Harish Salve to Take Vineesh Phogat’s Case?

Harish Salve is a 69-year-old senior advocate who primarily practices in the Supreme Court of India. He is known for his expertise in constitutional, commercial, and taxation law and has represented various high-profile clients in landmark cases.

This senior advocate has taken the case of Vineesh Phogat and will represent IOA before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. 

Salve's impressive track record and legal acumen make him a sought-after advocate for complex and high-stakes legal matters. His strategic approach and persuasive arguments have earned him a reputation as one of the top lawyers in India. 

Who is Harish Salve? A Glimpse at his most Prominent Cases & Outcomes

Harish Salve is an Indian senior advocate who was born on June 22, 1955, into a Marathi family. He has completed his Chartered Accountancy from ICAI and his LLB from Nagpur University. 

Additionally, the former Chief Justice of India, Sharad Arvind Bobde, was his classmate in school. Salve also served as the Solicitor General of India from November 1, 1999, to November 3, 2002. His notable cases include the following:

• Renowned attorney Harish Salve gained notoriety for defending Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was found guilty of espionage and given the death penalty by a Pakistani military court. Salve charged only ₹1 as his legal fee for this case, which earned him widespread praise.
• Salve has worked with major clients such as the Tata Group, Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries, and the ITC Group. He was involved in the Krishna Godavari Basin gas dispute case against Anil Ambani's Reliance Natural Resources Ltd. 
• In 2012, he won a significant ₹11,000-crore tax case for Vodafone against the Indian government.
• He also defended Keshub Mahindra in the Bhopal gas tragedy case and represented the Delhi police during the midnight crackdown on Baba Ramdev's supporters.
• In 2015, Salve was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honours. That same year, he successfully represented Salman Khan in the 2002 hit-and-run case, in which Khan was found not guilty by the Bombay High Court in December 2015.
• In 2018, Salve represented the Union government in the Supreme Court in the Cauvery water dispute. He was appointed as a Queen's Counsel for the courts of Wales and England in January of the previous year.
• Salve's involvement in Vinesh Phogat's case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) highlights the case's importance and complexity, concerning her disqualification from the Paris Olympics.