SC dismisses plea of 6 ex judges in PF scam

New Delhi, Feb 22 (PTI) The Supreme Court today dismissedthe plea of six former judges, including three of theAllabahad High Court, for exemption from personal appearancebefore a Special CBI court in Ghaziabad in the Rs 7-croreprovident fund scam.

A bench of justices H S Bedi and C K Prasad in an orderdismissed the appeal filed by the judges saying there was nomerit in their plea and asked them to appear before thespecial court.

The CBI chargesheet had named the six judges R N Mishra,R P Mishra, R P Yadav, all retired Allahabad High Courtjudges, and three retired district judges R S Chaubey A KSingh and A K Shrivastav.

Counsel S R Singh, Asha Gopalan Nair and Dubey appearedfor the judges.

The scam was exposed after special CBI judge Rama Jainhad lodged a criminal case against 70 people at Kavi Nagarpolice station on February 15, 2008.

Ashutosh Asthana, a key accused who died in Dasna Jailin mysterious circumstances on November 18, 2009, had named 36judges of the district courts, the Allahabad High Court andalso one judge of the Supreme Court who has since retired.

The special CBI court is due to hear the case next onMarch 14 and the six former judges are required to be presentin court that day.

There are 70 people accused in the PF scam whichrelates to siphoning of money fraudulently from the PFaccounts of class III and IV employees of the GhaziabadDistrict Court during 2001-2008.