By IANS,
Chandigarh : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will now investigate the cash-for-judge scam allegedly involving some lawyers and judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and several city-based property dealers.
The CBI Wednesday conveyed its acceptance to the Chandigarh administration to investigate the high-profile case following the administration’s request a day before.
“The case has been referred to the CBI by the Chandigarh administration for further investigation as it is an inter-state matter and has multi-dimensional implications,” a spokesman of the Chandigarh police said Wednesday.
The Supreme Court has set up a separate panel to conduct an internal investigation into the controversial case.
The scam came to light after an assistant of former Haryana additional advocate general Sanjiv Bansal delivered a packet containing Rs.1.5 million at the residence of high court judge Nirmaljit Kaur Aug 13.
The judge reported the matter to the police. Police investigations revealed that the packet was supposed to be delivered to another high court judge, Nirmal Yadav.
The Chandigarh police registered a case under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act against Bansal and others.
Following the controversy and the embarrassment caused to the high court in this matter, Justice Yadav proceeded on leave last Friday.
Bansal, who is known to have good connections with many Haryana politicians, judges and lawyers, was forced to resign as the state’s top law officer after the scam broke out.
Justice Yadav’s name figured during investigations done by the Chandigarh police when Bansal and a Panchkula-based property dealer Rajiv Gupta told the police that they delivered another packet containing Rs.1.5 million at her residence in Sector 24 here.
While Bansal, his assistant Parkash and Gupta have been arrested, another prime accused Ravinder Singh, who is a Delhi-based hotelier, is still absconding.
The name of Justice Yadav has figured in a land deal done in Solan district of neighbouring Himachal Pradesh this month.