Family lawyer Prakash Raniga under fire for latest misconduct towards alleged rape victim

A leading family lawyer with a history of attempting to silence women from seeking justice against their violent husbands has been lashed for his latest misconduct.

A prominent family lawyer with a history of attempting to silence women from seeking justice against their violent husbands has been lashed for his latest misconduct involving an alleged rape victim.

Principal lawyer of RRR Lawyers Prakash Raniga was rebuked by the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner (VLSC) over his shocking dealings with the ex-wife of his client.

The woman had made a historical rape compliant to police against her ex-husband which Mr Raniga attempted to weaponise in a highly unethical property settlement deal.

Legal documents reveal in March 2020 Mr Raniga offered to settle matrimonial property matters with his client’s ex-wife only if she made a statement of no complaint to police about the rape allegation and no future complaints about events in their marriage.

RRR Lawyers principal lawyer Prakash Raniga was reprimanded for his professional misconduct toward the ex-wife of his client who stood accused of rape. Picture: Supplied

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal senior member Jonathan Smithers found Mr Prakash engaged in professional misconduct which sought to undermine the administration of justice.

“It is trite that complainants of rape, as was the wife here, are in a vulnerable position,” Mr Smithers said.

“The trading of a property settlement for the withdrawal of a rape allegation goes beyond legitimate advocacy and is primarily designed to embarrass or frustrate another person.”

Mr Raniga was reprimanded, ordered to undertake three professional development units in ethics and professional responsibility and pay $3000 in legal costs.

The Carlton North-based lawyer, with over 30 year’s industry experience, has a track record of attempting to coerce abused women in legal deals.

In May 2018, another complaint was investigated by the VLSC over Mr Raniga’s dealings with a victim of family violence.

The Carlton North-based lawyer has a track record of attempting to coerce abused women in legal deals. File photo.

He was representing her husband whom was charged with unlawfully assaulting her and the subject of an intervention order application.

Legal documents state Mr Raniga wrote to the wife, requesting she make a statement of no complaint against his client.

When questioned, he told the VLSC “he did not intend to exert undue influence” and no further disciplinary action was taken.

“I am certain that if I had been disciplined for writing to (the alleged victim), then I certainly would not have written to (the other alleged victim) as I did on the 13th of March 2020,” Mr Raniga submitted to the court.

Character references submitted to the court on behalf of the lawyer referred to him as “highly professional” and acting with “utmost integrity” in his career.

Mr Smithers ruled his punishment ought not be crushing due to his fulsome admissions and co-operation with the investigation.

“This case illustrates how issues concerning the fundamental duties of legal practitioners with regard to the role they play in the administration of justice can arise in the daily conduct of a family law practitioner’s practice,” he said.

“It illustrates the need for practitioners to be mindful of those higher duties, even where the circumstances are such that one can well understand the reason why a client may give such instructions.”

Victoria Legal Aid suspended RRR Lawyers’ certifier status throughout the civil court proceeding, resulting in a 45 per cent loss of revenue to the firm.

Mr Raniga declined to comment when contacted by the Herald Sun.

Originally published as Family lawyer Prakash Raniga under fire for latest misconduct towards alleged rape victim