The Disciplinary Committee of the State Bar Council has suspended advocate Vengurlekar from legal practice for two years after finding her guilty of misrepresenting and fraudulently charging a bogus court fee of ₹80,000 from a client. The Committee also directed the advocate to pay ₹25,000 in compensation to the aggrieved client within a month.
The decision was taken by a three-member panel comprising BCMG Chairman U.P. Warunjikar, and members S.D. Desai and A.A. Garge, who found that the evidence presented by the complainant, Abhijeet Jagannath Zadokar, remained uncontested and credible. The Committee ruled:
“Complaint is partly allowed. Sanad of the Respondent is suspended for a period of 2 years and cost of ₹25,000 is granted in favour of the Complainant.”
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Client Alleges Bogus Receipt, ₹21 Lakh in Losses
The complaint, filed by Zadokar, alleged that the advocate had fraudulently charged him ₹80,000 as court fees and provided a fake receipt to validate the charge. In total, he claimed to have paid ₹1.5 lakh for legal services and suffered losses worth ₹21 lakh due to Vengurlekar’s alleged negligence and misconduct.
Supporting evidence included:
- Police communication records
- WhatsApp chats
- Payment receipts
- A 65-B Certificate supporting digital evidence
Despite receiving notice, the advocate and her legal counsel failed to participate in the disciplinary proceedings. In her written reply dated March 20, 2025, Vengurlekar denied the allegations, asserting that Zadokar had only sought legal consultation. She claimed the amount paid was split between court fees and her professional fee.
Disciplinary Committee Cites Uncontested Evidence, Finds Advocate Guilty
In its final order, the Disciplinary Committee highlighted that the complainant’s evidence, including a sworn affidavit and digital proof certified under Section 65-B of the Indian Evidence Act, remained unchallenged. The committee stated:
“The receipt of Court Fee Stamp of ₹80,000 is bogus. The Complainant has proved his case.”
With this observation, the Committee ruled to suspend Vengurlekar’s license to practice law (Sanad) for a period of two years and directed her to compensate the client within one month from the receipt of the order.
This disciplinary action underscores the Bar Council’s resolve to uphold ethical standards in the legal profession and serves as a warning to practitioners engaging in professional misconduct.