Zahira’s determination kept me motivated: Lawyer

Lucknow: The first major victory for Zahira’s lawyer, Jalaj Gupta, came in 2010 when the court quashed the Juvenile Justice Board’s order declaring Gaurav Shukla a minor. Gupta, who took up the case in 2009, said, “I accepted the case because it involved a girl’s honour.”
Gupta said he was left speechless after Monday’s verdict. “I have no words to say. What Zahira went through can only be understood by her.I decided to do put my best effort forward even if it meant being pitted against giants of criminal law hired by the accused,” said Gupta who fought the case with his juniors Rohit Ranjan, Adarsh Prabhat Asthana and Amzad Khan.
Thanking judiciary for the verdict, Gupta said, “The final hearing was the most stressful. Every time there would be nerve wrecking tension as to what would happen next, but I always tried to maintain my calm and give the judicial process its due time,” adding that, “Between 2012-15 there were more than 100 adjournments sought by Shukla during the hearings at JJB and various other courts.”
It was Zahira’s grit and determination that kept Gupta motivated. “Court proceedings can be late and tedious but she never gave up hope and her passion and trust towards the justice dispensation system was a big thing for all of us to work equally hard. Had she not stayed firm, it would have been even more difficult for those connected with this case,” he said.
Staying up night after night, studying and researching for the case, Gupta said his family understood and gave him the much needed support.