Chandigarh: Former Punjab and Haryana High
Court Judge Nirmal Yadav on Friday sought permanent exemption
from appearing before the special CBI court in the 2008
cash-at-judge`s door case against her on health grounds.
Special CBI Judge Ritu Tagore granted her exemption for
today while directing the prosecution to file its reply on
Yadav`s plea on October 08.
In her first application Yadav sought a copy of the
"complete charge" sheet filed by the CBI in the case as she
claimed that she had not been provided the same "in totality".
In two other applications she sought exemption from
appearance in the case.
"She herself will be present in the court when her
presence is imperatively needed," Garg contended adding that
Yadav had crossed the age of 62 years and is not in a position
to come from Gurgaon, where she resides, due to health
reasons as she is a diabetic and suffering from hypertension.
"The former judge has been facing humiliation, harassment
and torture due to media trial in the case," the counsel
pleaded.
However, the CBI strongly opposed her plea that she be
granted permanent exemption from appearance in the court.
The defence also opposed the appointment of advocate
Anupam Gupta as Special Public Prosecutor of the CBI
expressing fear that he could not be impartial in the case.
During the previous hearing on August 27, Yadav
appeared for the first time before the CBI Special Court
and was granted bail after furnishing a bond.
The case had rocked the Punjab and Haryana High Court
after Rs 15 lakh was wrongly delivered at the residence of
Justice Nirmaljit Kaur, another judge of the High Court in
Chandigarh, on August 13, 2008 following which she reported
the matter to the Chandigarh Police.
The money, allegedly meant for Justice Yadav, was said
to have been delivered to Justice Kaur due to confusion over
their names.
Later, Yadav was transferred as a judge of the Uttarakhand
High Court.
PTI
