CJ Reassigns Corruption Case After Complaints

The Order Said Matter Came Up Before the Chief Justice Under Some 'Disturbing Circumstances'

- Surender Sharma

CHANDIGARH: A high-profile corruption case involving a Gurugram builder was withdrawn from a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana high court after the chief justice (CJ) received "oral and written" complaints, the court said in an order on Friday.

The petition by real estate firm M3M's director, Roop Bansal, sought to quash a first information report filed by the Haryana anti-corruption bureau against former special Central Bureau of Investigation court judge, Sudhir Parmar, his nephew and M3M official Ajay Parmar, and Roop Bansal.

The petition was being heard by Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu, who reserved judgment on May 2. But on May 8-9, Chief Justice Sheel Nagu received some "oral and written complaints". The next day, he withdrew the case from Justice Sindhu's bench and listed it before himself.

When the case was taken up on May 12, senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi, who appeared for the builder, objected to the development.

On Friday, the chief justice rejected Rohatgi's arguments, and listed the case for further hearing on May 26.