Joseph had appeared in the court, on Wednesday, as a counsel to Michel and had, reportedly, told special judge Arvind Kumar that he has been authorised to appear on Michel's behalf and sought the permission to talk to him. He was granted five minutes to talk to Michel in the courtroom, subsequently. When asked, he told reporters that he appeared in the court in his personal capacity and that his roles as lawyer and Congressman are separate.

After the controversy over Indian Youth Congress member, Aljo K Joseph, appearing as the counsel for the India extradited UK citizen, Christian Michel, accused of being a middleman in the Augusta Westland chopper deal, became an intense one, Congress party expelled Joseph from it’s party membership on Wednesday. The national in-charge of legal department for Indian Youth Congress, has appeared as a legal aide to Michel in India.

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“Aljo K Joseph appeared in his personal capacity. He didn’t consult the youth Congress before appearing in the case. IYC does not endorse such actions. IYC has removed Aljo Joseph from IYC’s Legal Department and expelled him from the party with immediate effect,” the statement from Indian Youth Congress’ national spokesperson Amrish Ranjan Pandey, quoted ANI. Pandey called Joseph an ordinary member of Congress party and said that it is regrettable to see this turned into an issue by BJP ahead of polling in Rajasthan.

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Joseph had appeared in the court, on Wednesday, as a counsel to Michel and had, reportedly, told special judge Arvind Kumar that he has been authorised to appear on Michel’s behalf and sought the permission to talk to him. He was granted five minutes to talk to Michel in the courtroom, subsequently. When asked, he told reporters that he appeared in the court in his personal capacity and that his roles as lawyer and Congressman are separate. “I am an advocate and appeared in my personal capacity. If somebody asks me to appear on his behalf, I have discharged only my duty as a lawyer. This has nothing to do with Congress. My relationship with Congress and my profession are separate,” clarified Joseph on his stand to appear for Michel in the court, quoted TOI.

(With inputs from ANI & TOI)

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