A Madras High Court judge recused himself after allegations surfaced that a senior advocate demanded Rs.50 lakh from a client, falsely claiming it would be used to bribe the judge. The judge stepped aside to allow impartial inquiry.
A judge from the Madras High Court recently recused himself from a case amid allegations that a senior advocate had solicited Rs.50 lakh from a client under the false pretense of bribing him for a favorable ruling.
Justice M. Nirmal Kumar stepped back after the Registry received a notification from the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, which included a representation from the All India Lawyers’ Association for Justice (AILAJ).
The court was reviewing a criminal revision and a connected quashing petition related to a case initiated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
In its order, the court stated,
“In view of specific allegations contained in the representation given by All India Lawyers Association for Justice (AILAJ), Chennai, this Courts finds that it is appropriate that the issue to be referred to the Vigilance Cell of the Madras High Court. Hence, this Court is not inclined to hear this case. It is appropriate that the matter is placed before the Hon’ble Chief Justice for posting before an appropriate Bench and also to issue appropriate directions to the Vigilance Cell to conduct enquiry and to take appropriate action in this regard.”
The representation claimed that the senior advocate had collected Rs.50,00,000 from a client, claiming it was intended for “your Lordship” concerning the case.
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It further noted that, despite receiving the money, no ruling had been made up to that point.
The involved advocate, N. Murali Kumaran, rejected the allegations and expressed his willingness to cooperate with any investigation.
Special Public Prosecutor K. Srinivasan remarked that such representations undermine the integrity of the court and called for decisive action to identify those behind the purported false complaint.