Former Union Law Minister and jurist Shanti Bhushan died on Tuesday after brief illness. He was 97.

The PTI cited a source close to Bhushan's family to report that he died at his home in Delhi following a brief illness.

Bhushan served as the Union Law Minister during 1977-79 in the Morarji Desai Cabinet. He was also a Senior Advocate and was vocal on corruption, which led to a brief association with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

In his condolences, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said he was "deeply pained" to learn of Bhushan's death.?

Bhushan was active in the legal profession till recently and had argued on a PIL in the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored probe into the Rafale fighter jets deal. In his long career, he appeared in several cases of public importance.?

Bhushan represented petitioner Raj Narain in the Allahabad High Court in a famous case in which the election of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was annulled for committing electoral malpractices.?

Bhushan's sons Jayant and Prashant Bhushan are also leading lawyers.?

(With PTI inputs)