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A case has been registered at the Museum Police Station here against Congress Member of Parliament K. Sudhakaran in connection with his recent statement that he witnessed a litigant paying Rs.36 lakh as bribe to a Supreme Court judge to get a favourable verdict in 1993.
Mr. Sudhakaran was speaking at a public meeting at Kottarakara to express solidarity with Kerala Congress (B) leader R. Balakrishna Pillai, who was sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court in a corruption case.
The Kannur MP claimed that the litigant, representing a group of 21 bar hotel owners, paid bribe in his presence.
The litigant has since denied Mr. Sudhakaran's charge, saying it could have been made “off the cuff.” He approached a Division Bench of the Supreme Court in 1993 to restore 21 bar licences that were cancelled by the State government that year. The High Court had upheld the government decision.
Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan and Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan asked how the MP could remain silent on an alleged act of corruption for so many years. They also questioned the legitimacy of Mr. Sudhakaran, a former State Minister, to hold public office. The very next day, Mr. Sudhakaran said he was sticking to his claim.
On Monday, A.K. Pramod of Pallichal, a State committee member of the All-India Lawyers Union, petitioned the Home Minister to probe Mr. Sudhakaran's “revelations.” Mr. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan ordered the police to register a case on the basis of the petition.
J. K. Dinil, Circle Inspector, Museum, said the police registered the case on the charges of “concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment” and “intentional omission to give information of offence by persons bound to inform” under Sections 120 and 202 of the Indian Penal Code.
A senior official said the case would be transferred to the Crime Branch for a sustained investigation.
Mr. Sudhakaran was speaking at a public meeting at Kottarakara to express solidarity with Kerala Congress (B) leader R. Balakrishna Pillai, who was sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court in a corruption case.
The Kannur MP claimed that the litigant, representing a group of 21 bar hotel owners, paid bribe in his presence.
The litigant has since denied Mr. Sudhakaran's charge, saying it could have been made “off the cuff.” He approached a Division Bench of the Supreme Court in 1993 to restore 21 bar licences that were cancelled by the State government that year. The High Court had upheld the government decision.
Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan and Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan asked how the MP could remain silent on an alleged act of corruption for so many years. They also questioned the legitimacy of Mr. Sudhakaran, a former State Minister, to hold public office. The very next day, Mr. Sudhakaran said he was sticking to his claim.
On Monday, A.K. Pramod of Pallichal, a State committee member of the All-India Lawyers Union, petitioned the Home Minister to probe Mr. Sudhakaran's “revelations.” Mr. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan ordered the police to register a case on the basis of the petition.
J. K. Dinil, Circle Inspector, Museum, said the police registered the case on the charges of “concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment” and “intentional omission to give information of offence by persons bound to inform” under Sections 120 and 202 of the Indian Penal Code.
A senior official said the case would be transferred to the Crime Branch for a sustained investigation.