Judges to be subjected to interrogation in Ghaziabad scam: CJI

New Delhi, Jul 3 (UNI) In an unprecedented move, Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan has agreed to subject 12 judges of higher judiciary to interrogation in Rs seven crore Ghaziabad District Courts Treasury Scam.

In a letter written by Secretary General of the Supreme Court Mr V K Jain to Ghaziabad SSP, the Chief Justice has directed him to prepare a questionnaire for each one of the 12 judges who include one Supreme Court judge and 11 high court judges who are facing allegations of benefitting from the scandal.

Allahabad High Court Chief Justice has, however, not given permission for similar interrogation of 24 district judges who are also the alleged beneficiaries of the scandal.

The Chief Justice of India has also made it clear in his letter that he was not averse to personal interrogation of the judges if their answers to the questionnaire are not satisfactory.

Ghaziabad police has been told by the Chief Justice of India to forward to him individual questionnare for each of the twelve judges containing precise and relevant questions to be put to them.

''If the investigating officer is not satisfied with the answers to the questionnare, he can make a request to the Chief Justice of India for personal interrogation of the judge concerned and the request will be considered on merit,''the letter written by Mr Jain says.

The former treasurer of Ghaziabad Treasury Ashutosh Asthana, who is presently in jail had named 36 judges as beneficiaries of the scandal in his statement recorded by special judge Rama Jain under section 164 CrPC which is admmissible as evidence.

Ghaziabad District Courts Treasury has allegedly been defrauded of about Rs seven crores through fraudulent withdrawl of General Provident Fund over the last seven years. Ghaziabad police is preparing questionnaire for sending the same to the Chief Justice of India.

According to Ghaziabad District Bar Association petition pending in the Supreme Court, the scandal is of about Rs 23 crores and not that of seven crores.

There are 83 accused in the case.

UNI SC SY RP RK2020