Orissa High Court Orders Investigation into Lawyer’s Alleged Bribery of Judge |
Cuttack: Orissa high court has directed the State Bar Council to investigate allegations against a lawyer who allegedly accepted money from a client on the pretext of bribing a judge.
Justice Sibo Sankar Mishra in an order on Oct 29 emphasised the Bar Council’s responsibility to maintain professional ethics and protect the profession’s credibility from “black sheep”.
An FIR was filed on Nov 11, 2021, at Mangalabag police station in Cuttack by the wife of an accused in a case under the Odisha Protection of Interests of Depositors Act. According to the complaint, the lawyer allegedly took Rs 16 lakh, a gold chain and a gold bracelet, claiming they were for the marriage of the daughter of then HC judge. The judge was supposed to hear her husband’s bail plea.
Dismissing the lawyer’s petition to quash the FIR, Justice Mishra said, “The allegations are not only at a nascent stage of investigation but are quite serious in nature as the name of a former judge of this court has been soiled.”
The court also imposed a Rs 10,000 fine on the lawyer, directing him to deposit the amount with the District Legal Services Authority, Cuttack within two weeks.
Commenting on gravity of the allegations, Justice Mishra observed, “No common person would normally dare to make false allegations of such grim nature against a member of the Bar knowing fully well that there would be dire consequences.”
HC has directed the Bar Council to conduct disciplinary proceedings “uninfluenced by any observations made by the court”, while ensuring all concerned parties get ample opportunity to participate in the process. The registrar (judicial) has been instructed to forward a copy of the judgment to the Bar Council secretary.
The case is currently pending before the judicial magistrate first class (city), Cuttack.
Justice Sibo Sankar Mishra in an order on Oct 29 emphasised the Bar Council’s responsibility to maintain professional ethics and protect the profession’s credibility from “black sheep”.
An FIR was filed on Nov 11, 2021, at Mangalabag police station in Cuttack by the wife of an accused in a case under the Odisha Protection of Interests of Depositors Act. According to the complaint, the lawyer allegedly took Rs 16 lakh, a gold chain and a gold bracelet, claiming they were for the marriage of the daughter of then HC judge. The judge was supposed to hear her husband’s bail plea.
Dismissing the lawyer’s petition to quash the FIR, Justice Mishra said, “The allegations are not only at a nascent stage of investigation but are quite serious in nature as the name of a former judge of this court has been soiled.”
The court also imposed a Rs 10,000 fine on the lawyer, directing him to deposit the amount with the District Legal Services Authority, Cuttack within two weeks.
Commenting on gravity of the allegations, Justice Mishra observed, “No common person would normally dare to make false allegations of such grim nature against a member of the Bar knowing fully well that there would be dire consequences.”
HC has directed the Bar Council to conduct disciplinary proceedings “uninfluenced by any observations made by the court”, while ensuring all concerned parties get ample opportunity to participate in the process. The registrar (judicial) has been instructed to forward a copy of the judgment to the Bar Council secretary.
The case is currently pending before the judicial magistrate first class (city), Cuttack.
