K.K. Venugopal. Credit: Nikhil Kanekal/ Wikimedia CommonsNew Delhi: Senior advocate K K Venugopal's name has been cleared for appointment as the attorney general of India, following the decision of Mukul Rohatgi to step down as the top law officer.
A decision to appoint the 86-year-old Keralite veteran lawyer as the successor of Rohatgi was discussed before the departure of prime minister Narendra Modi on a visit to the US, Netherlands and Portugal.
Sources said that "Venugopal had a meeting with Modi before his departure for a three-nation tour."
When contacted and asked about his priority as the attorney general, Venugopal said, "I will speak only after the notification is issued."
The president signs the warrant of appointment of the attorney general.
Venugopal, 86, will represent the government as a law officer for the second time as he was one of the additional solicitors general during the Morarji Desai government.
The noted constitutional expert has been associated with several government instrumentalities to represent them as a senior advocate. Lately, he has been appearing for the CBI and the enforcement directorate before the Supreme Court in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
Venugopal recently appeared for senior BJP leader L K Advani and others before the apex court which restored the charge of criminal conspiracy against them and ordered completion of the trial in two years.
