Kidnapped at seven, UP man becomes lawyer and argues own case 17 years later

Harsh Garg, who was kidnapped at the age of seven, recently presented the closing arguments in his own case as a lawyer. On September 17, a trial court sentenced eight out of 14 accused to life imprisonment for their roles in the kidnapping, which took place on February 10, 2007, in Kheragarh, Agra.

Harsh was abducted from his father's medical shop by a gang of dacoits, who injured his father during the incident. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of Rs 55 lakh. Over nearly a month, Harsh was moved frequently between hideouts across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. He was rescued on March 6, 2007, after police received a tip-off about the gang's location.

After witnessing the trial since 2015, Harsh pursued a law degree, graduating in 2022. His deep involvement in the case motivated him to take on the role of his own lawyer during the final hearing, where he argued for 55 minutes, detailing the kidnapping and the roles of the dacoits.

The court found sufficient evidence to convict eight of the accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, while four were acquitted due to lack of evidence. The defence plans to appeal the judgment.