Cong MP's charge on corrupt SC judge kicks up row

The allegation was described as serious by the CPI-M whose Chief Minister V S 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 last 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 Counciladopted 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.