New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday sought
official translation from Malyalam to English of documents
relating to the property of former Chief Justice of India KG
Balakrishnan and his kin against whom a petition has been
filed seeking a CBI probe into their assets.
"The matter cannot be decided unless an official
translation of documents in English is done properly," a bench
headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia said.
Advocate ML Sharma, who was permitted on March 4 to
file additional documents, had placed the records of the
properties written in Malayalam.
"You have submitted the documents written in Malyalam.
None of us understands Malayalam. You have to get it
translated in English," the bench said giving the advocate
four weeks to complete the exercise.
The advoacte who has moved the Supreme Court for a probe
into the assets of close relatives of Balakrishnan, said he
procurred the documents after great difficulty from the
villages in Kerala where he was told by the authorities that
documents have been seized by the state government which was
also probing the assets of former CJI and his family members.
The advocate had in an affidavit earlier said he "came
to know through reliable sources about the details of the
other properties" allegedly acquired by the former CJI`s
daughters and sons-in-law.
He said the information and documents procured by him
included those showing the location of the properties besides
the dates of the registration of their sale deeds.
Sharma alleged the properties were bought in the name of
daughters, sons-in-law and other relatives of the former CJI,
who is currently the chairman of National Human Rights
Commission, at prices much lower than the prevailing market
rates. All these properties were allegedly bought only after
Justice Balakrishnan became the CJI, he claimed.
The affidavit, which was allowed to be submitted along
with additional documents, said "as recently as on February
21, 2011, the vigilance wing of Kerala Income Tax department
has recovered huge black money from his (ex-CJI`s) relatives.
"In the light of the above facts and details of
properties, documents and registration dates, it is further
submitted that a judicial inquiry must be held against the
ex-CJI," said Sharma in the affidavit.
The bench had during a hearing on February 18 asked
Attorney General GE Vahanvati to apprise it of the status of
a complaint filed in May last year against Balakrishnan
seeking a CBI probe into his assets.
"What is the status of the complaint forwarded to the
Ministry of Home Affairs?" the bench had asked the Attorney
General, referring to a complaint which had been sent to the
Vice President and other dignitaries.
The complaint was filed by a Delhi-based journalist on
May 5, 2010, seeking a CBI probe into the assets of
Balakrishnan and his family members.
PTI
