High court Judge says he is prepared to face CBI probe

With controversy brewing over his meeting with CPI(M) Politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in Delhi, Kerala High Court judge Justice Harun Al Rashid today said he was prepared to face a CBI probe to clear his name.

"Let an independent agency like CBI probe the matter. I will give my full cooperation", Justice Rashid said speaking at a Mediation cell seminar here today.

Justice Rashid said he was prepared to demit office during the probe.

Justice Rashid had, while ordering a CBI probe into two land-grabbing cases against Salim Raj, former gunman of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, had made strong observations against the CM's office which was not taken kindly by Congress-led UDF government as the polls are round the corner.

A television channel had recently aired a chance meeting between the judge and Kodiyeri in Delhi's Kerala House which had snowballed into a controversy.

"One question that has been asked is about the timing of the judgement. As far as a judge is concerned, what is the relevance of election and delivery of judgement"? Justice Rashid said.

"Should I have kept the judgement in my pocket till the polls are over"? he added.
Pointing out that he had no ill will against those who had levelled allegations against him, the Kerala High Court judge said he was prepared to face any consequence.

"I had not spoken even a single word about the Salim Raj case to Kodieryi", he said, adding, he had gone to Delhi to invite some dignatries for his son's wedding and it was only by chance he had met Kodieryi.

He said he had tried to discharge his duties as a judge in an honest and truthful manner and if efforts are made to make false implications against him, he would not run away and be frightened.

Those who were not satisfied with court verdicts, the only remedy is that they can file appeal in the higher court, he said.

On an appeal filed by the state government seeking to expunge the remarks of the judge, a division bench had stayed two sentences.

The government submitted Justice Rashid "had gone into areas which are not pleaded or argued. There was no material on record to enter into findings on aspects which are detrimental to the very functioning of the office of the Chief Minister".