The matter will now be heard by a three-judge bench, led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, along with Justice Trivedi, on Today.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India uncovered a case of judicial fraud involving Bhagwan Singh, a resident of Budaun, Uttar Pradesh. Singh, in a sworn affidavit submitted in early August, has claimed that he was not involved in a criminal appeal challenging a 2019 Allahabad High Court (HC) judgment that quashed a rape complaint filed by his daughter, Rinki.
READ ALSO: TN Police Apprehend Pretender Who Posed as Madras High Court Judge’s PS
The case began when Singh’s daughter’s rape complaint, originally lodged in 2019, was set aside by the Allahabad HC.
Ajay Katara, the accused, had been a key witness in the high-profile murder case of businessman Nitish Katara, which led to the conviction of Vikas Yadav and Vishal Yadav in 2002. Katara’s testimony was instrumental in securing life sentences for the Yadav brothers, who are related to politician D.P. Yadav.
According to Ajay Katara, the rape complaint against him was one of 37 false FIRs filed after his testimony against the Yadavs. In response, the Supreme Court issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh government and the primary accused, Ajay Katara, on May 17, 2024, to investigate the matter further.
On August 9, Bhagwan Singh appeared before the Supreme Court and asserted that he had not signed the appeal or the accompanying ‘vakalatnama’ (a legal document authorizing representation). Singh explained that since his daughter eloped and married Sukhpal Singh in 2013, he had not been in contact with her or his son-in-law. This claim raised questions about the authenticity of the appeal documents.
Singh’s appearance followed claims from lawyers representing the alleged impersonator, who argued that they had received the signed appeal documents from Sukhpal Singh.
During a hearing on August 28, Sukhpal Singh testified that he had met Bhagwan Singh several years ago in Budaun, where Singh supposedly handed over the signed documents. However, discrepancies in Sukhpal’s statements led the Supreme Court to order him to provide a detailed affidavit explaining the circumstances of their meeting.
Additionally, the Supreme Court has demanded a new affidavit from the notary advocate who attested the affidavit part of the appeal, questioning how the document was validated without direct interaction with Bhagwan Singh.
The case has drawn attention due to the involvement of the same lawyers who previously represented Vikas Yadav in an appeal against a Delhi High Court decision on parole. This connection has added another layer of complexity to the proceedings.
The matter will now be heard by a three-judge bench, led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, along with Justice Trivedi, on Today. This case highlights critical concerns about judicial integrity and the importance of verifying the authenticity of legal documents and claims.
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
