Thiruvananthapuram: The ruling CPI-M and
the Kerala Bar Council on Sunday demanded that the Supreme Court
order a thorough inquiry into the charge by a Congress MP K
Sudhakaran that an apex court judge was allegedly bribed
several years ago.
The allegation was described as serious by the CPI-M
whose Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan hoped the Court would
take a serious note of the charge after Sudhakaran claimed
that he was witness to the alleged bribing of an unnamed
Supreme Court judge in a bar licence case.
While speaking at a public meeting organised at
Kottarakkara in Kollam on Saturday night, Sudhakaran had said that he
was witness to a judge being bribed apparently for getting a
favourable decision in a case seeking restoration of bar
licences cancelled by the Kerala High Court.
Sudhakaran, who represents Kannur in the Lok Sabha,
made the claim without naming the judge at a function
organised by the UDF to extend moral support to Kerala
Congress-B leader R Balakrishna Pillai, who was recently
sentenced to one year imprisonment by the Supreme Court in a
corruption case.
Replying to reporters` queries on the issue,
Achutanandan sought to know whether Sudhakaran would specify
the name of the judge instead of making vague statements.
Kerala Bar Council adopted a resolution demanding a
thorough enquiry into Sudhakaran`s allegations.
CPI-M Kerala state secretariat also wanted the Apex
Court to order a suo motu enquiry into the bribery charge
against the Judiciary.
A party statement here said the enquiry was necessary to
restore the image of the Judiciary, which had been tarnished
by the allegation.
Sudhakaran meanwhile told reporters here that he stood
by what he had said and was ready to face legal proceedings in
connection with the issue. "My conscience is my witness", he
said, adding, he had been keeping the matter in his mind for
long.
PTI
