Court asks CBI not to close cash-for-judge case

CHANDIGARH - A city court Thursday refused permission to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to close the cash-for-judge scam case for want of sanctions for prosecution of the main suspects.

A packet containing Rs.1.5 million in cash was delivered Aug 13, 2008 at the residence of newly appointed Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Nirmaljit Kaur but investigations later revealed it was meant for another judge.

CBI Special Judge Darshan Singh has summoned the complainant, Amrik Singh, who worked in the office of Nirmaljit Kaur. Next date of hearing is slated Jan 11, next year.

The court observed that CBI could pursue the case against those accused for whom prosecution sanctions were not required and the case could not be closed without hearing the version of the complainant.

A.S. Chahal, defence counsel, told IANS: “The court has summoned Amrik Singh on Jan 11. As per law, court cannot close the case without hearing the side of complainant.”

CBI had sought the cancellation of the case as it did not get sanctions to prosecute the main suspects, who also include judges.

The police arrested Haryana’s additional advocate general Sanjeev Bansal, a property dealer Rajiv Gupta and Delhi-based hotelier Ravinder Singh.

Bansal and Gupta told police that the money was meant for another high court judge Nirmal Yadav. They claimed that another packet containing Rs.1.5 million was separately delivered to Yadav.

Yadav is now transferred to Uttrakhand High Court.