Cong MP''s charge of witnessing bribing judge kicks up row

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 13 (PTI) The ruling CPI-M andthe Kerala Bar Council today demanded that the Supreme Courtorder a thorough inquiry into the charge by a Congress MP KSudhakaran that an apex court judge was allegedly bribedseveral years ago.

The allegation was described as serious by the CPI-Mwhose Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan hoped the Court wouldtake a serious note of the charge after Sudhakaran claimedthat he was witness to the alleged bribing of an unnamedSupreme Court judge in a bar licence case.

While speaking at a public meeting organised atKottarakkara in Kollam last night, Sudhakaran had said that hewas witness to a judge being bribed apparently for getting afavourable decision in a case seeking restoration of barlicences cancelled by the Kerala High Court.

Sudhakaran, who represents Kannur in the Lok Sabha,made the claim without naming the judge at a functionorganised by the UDF to extend moral support to KeralaCongress-B leader R Balakrishna Pillai, who was recentlysentenced to one year imprisonment by the Supreme Court in acorruption case.

Replying to reporters'' queries on the issue,Achutanandan sought to know whether Sudhakaran would specifythe name of the judge instead of making vague statements.

Kerala Bar Counciladopted a resolution demanding athorough enquiry into Sudhakaran''s allegations.

CPI-M Kerala state secretariat also wanted the ApexCourt to order a suo motu enquiry into the bribery chargeagainst the Judiciary.

A party statement here said the enquiry was necessary torestore the image of the Judiciary, which had been tarnishedby the allegation.

Sudhakaran meanwhile told reporters here that he stoodby what he had said and was ready to face legal proceedings inconnection with the issue. "My conscience is my witness," hesaid, adding, he had been keeping the matter in his mind forlong.