Poonam Chand Solanki Age, Wife, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Poonam Chand Solanki

• Poonam Chand Solanki, an Indian advocate, has been affiliated with the Bar Council of Rajasthan since 1996. He represented the minor girl in the 2013 Asaram Bapu Rape Case at the Rajasthan High Court in Jodhpur.

• Despite coming from a financially disadvantaged background in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Solanki and his three sisters were able to receive a quality education thanks to the determination of their parents.

• Solanki joined the Bar Council of Rajasthan in 1996 after completing his post-graduation.

• Afterward, he commenced his law practice at a sessions court in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and consequently handled numerous cases.

• Yashvardhan initiated a PIL in the Rajasthan High Court in 2002, opposing the practice of immersing Lord Ganesha’s idols, which were made of Plaster of Paris, in the Gulab Sagar Lake near the historic Ghantaghar in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Poonam Chand presented the argument that this practice caused water pollution, leading to the death of numerous fish, and requested the judge to prohibit it. The court ruled in favor of the petition. Subsequently, Poonam Chand faced threats from the Shiv Sena and other Hindu organizations concerning this issue.

• Solanki has spent over twenty years in his career, engaging in legal battles across trial courts, session courts, high courts, and even the Supreme Court.

• In 2013, Asaram Bapu was accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl from Chindwara in Madhya Pradesh. The victim’s parents filed a case against Asaram in the Rajasthan High Court on 29 November 2013. Prior to the incident, the girl’s parents were devoted followers of Asaram Bapu. They had visited his Ashram, where one of his disciples claimed that the girl was possessed by an evil spirit and advised them to seek Asaram’s help for an exorcism. However, instead of providing treatment, Asaram raped the girl during their meeting. Dissatisfied with the progress of the case, the girl’s parents consulted multiple lawyers before eventually approaching Poonam Chand Solanki in January 2014. Despite being aware of their financial constraints, Poonam Chand took on the case, driven by a strong determination for justice. While fighting legal battles is his profession, there are moments when a cause transcends personal needs. Poonam Chand embarked on this legal battle solely for the sake of justice and truth.

• Despite the exorbitant fees being charged by several lawyers to represent the minor girl, Poonam Chand Solanki, he decided to take on the case pro bono after learning about the family’s financial situation. In an interview, Solanki stated that he did not request any payment for his legal services. He did, however, provide a breakdown of expenses incurred during the case, including eight trips to Delhi, which encompassed unexpected visits to the Supreme Court, as well as fees associated with obtaining certified copies in the High Court and trial court. These expenses amounted to approximately 7000-8000 rupees. Nonetheless, Solanki emphasized that he did not charge any fees for his services.

• As the case progressed, Asaram attempted to bribe Solanki with millions of rupees in an effort to sway him away from the proceedings. Nevertheless, Solanky remained resolute and unwavering.

• When Asaram was unsuccessful in bribing Solanki, he resorted to sending death threats through his associates. Poonam Chand, however, remained unaffected by these threats. Asaram did not only target Solanki, but also everyone who opposed him in the case, including the victim, police officers involved in the investigation, and even the judges. Asaram’s men attacked around 9 key witnesses for the prosecution, with one being stabbed outside the court and later going missing, while three others were murdered. During an interview, when asked if he had received any threats from Asaram, Solanki stated that there were indeed threats, but they failed to tempt him. Despite all the chaos, Solanki remained focused solely on the matter at hand. The opinions and actions of numerous individuals did not hold any significance to him. His primary concern was the case itself and abiding by the law’s guidelines.

• Poonam Chand, in an interview, shared that he fearlessly confronted renowned legal figures such as Ram Jethmalani, Salman Khurshid, Subramanian Swamy, and KTS Tulsi, all of whom defended Asaram in the case. In a remarkable feat, he stood alone as the sole advocate fighting for the rights of the minor girl against Asaram’s team of 14 lawyers.
• Ram Jethmalani ji made an appearance to present arguments on Asaram’s bail application in accordance with section 4(39) of the CrPC before the esteemed High Court. Subramanian Swamy also appeared before the Trial Court to argue for Asaram’s bail application using the same section. Subsequently, KTS Tulsi appeared before the Trial Court to contest the amendment made to the Special Public Prosecutor, asserting that his name had not been officially announced in the gazette.

• During a media conversation, Solanki recounted an incident involving Jethmalani’s withdrawal from the case. This came about when Solanki introduced Jethmalani to section 27 of the POCSO ACT while sharing an anecdote. According to reports, Jethmalani questioned the possibility of the rape victim undergoing a medical examination prior to the registration of an FIR. In response, Solanki pointed out that Jethmalani may not have thoroughly read or overlooked section 27 of the POCSO Act. Jethmalani was taken aback by Solanki’s reply and subsequently decided to drop the case.

• Subramanian Swamy, authorized by the Supreme Court of India and high courts to argue cases despite not being a lawyer, defended Asaram after Jethmalani. Swamy boasted about his success in exposing scams and bringing down governments when he joined the case. However, his confidence was shattered when Solanki argued against Asaram’s bail plea in court, referencing the HS Rastogi case. Solanki pointed out that Asaram had not informed the court about Swamy presenting the bail application, raising concerns about what would happen if the bail request was denied and Asaram claimed he had not given permission to Swamy. As a result of Solanki’s argument, Asaram was promptly brought from jail to the court to file an application. To everyone’s surprise, the court rejected Asaram Bapu’s bail request. This failure marked Swamy’s first and only attempt at securing bail for Asaram as he abruptly left the case and never returned, despite his earlier promise to Asaram.

• Asaram’s lawyer, Salman Khursheed, former Union Minister of India, attempted to secure bail for his client by claiming a severe illness in court. However, Solanki exposed Khursheed’s deception by persuading the court to establish a medical board to assess Asaram’s health. Following the board’s declaration of Asaram’s good health, the court denied his bail request.

• Solanki’s diligent endeavors resulted in the final verdict of the case being rendered in favor of the young girl, finding Asaram, along with his two accomplices, Shilpi, the Gurukul’s warden, and Sharad, the Gurukul’s director, guilty.

• Poonam Chand’s passion for writing books and teaching children shines through when he is not engaged in legal battles. He has authored numerous law books, showcasing his vast knowledge in the field.

• According to The Times of India, Poonam Chand Solanki owns a 2004 model Alto car.

• His inspiration comes from Bhagwati Prasad Sharma, the former Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court.

• ZEE5 released a biopic titled “Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai” on 23 May 2023, which is based on the life of Poonam Chand Solanki. The film, directed by Apoorv Singh Karki and written by Deepak Kingrani, stars Manoj Bajpayee as the lead character. In an interview, Bajpayee described his role as P.C Solanki in the film as an incredible journey. The film tells the extraordinary story of a regular man who courageously fought against obstacles for truth and justice. Bajpayee hopes that the recently released trailer will captivate the audience and inspire them to witness the inspiring story of P.C Solanki’s determination and sacrifices. The image shows Manoj Bajpayee portraying the character of Poonam Chand Solanki in a scene from the film “Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai.”