Noted criminal lawyer Shrikant Shivade, who had handled high-profile cases involving Bollywood actors Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Shiney Ahuja, and represented two accused in the 2 G spectrum case, died in a private hospital in Pune, Maharashtra on Wednesday due to prolonged illness, sources close to his family said. He was 67.
The fraternity of defence lawyers in Pune expressed sorrow after his death was confirmed. Advocate Shivade was diagnosed with leukaemia (blood cancer), they said.
The senior lawyer was a patient of leukaemia and had undergone a bone marrow transplant in November, 2021. After his condition deteriorated he was admitted to hospital few weeks ago.
The 67-year-old was admitted to the hospital two weeks ago after his condition deteriorated, a lawyer who had assisted him on several cases said while speaking to Live Law
A law graduate from the Indian Law Society, Shivade represented actors Salman Khan in the 2002 hit-and-run case and actor Shiney Ahuja, who was booked in a rape case in 2009 in his career.
He had represented two accused in 2 G spectrum cases and had also appeared for Peter Mukerjea in the Sheena Bora murder case. He had also represented diamond merchant Bharat Shah.
In an MCOCA case regarding underworld funding of the film "Chori Chori Chupke Chupke," Shivade cross-examined several celebrities, including Sanjay Dutt.
Ealier, in his letter of gratitude after his release from sexual assault case, ex-editor of Tehelka magazine had thanked Shivade.
The celebrity lawyer is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter, and mother.