CBI accused of misusing aggrieved person to fabricate case against Justice Nirmal Yadav

A Special CBI Court in Chandigarh has acquitted retired Justice Nirmal Yadav in the 2008 “cash at judge’s door” case. The court, in a detailed 90-page judgment, dismissed all allegations against Justice Yadav, citing a lack of legal evidence. The case was registered 17 years ago, and the court ultimately found the prosecution’s evidence to be hypothetical and assumptious.

The case originated when a bag containing Rs 15 lakh was delivered to the residence of a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The CBI alleged that the bag was meant for Justice Yadav but was mistakenly delivered to another judge’s residence due to a similarity in names. The CBI claimed that the money was paid to influence a favourable judgment related to a plot in Panchkula.

However, the court questioned the credibility of the CBI’s key witness, RK Jain, who had previously lost a case decided by Justice Yadav. The court noted that Jain’s testimony was based on improvements, assumptions, and falsehoods. The court also criticised the CBI for relying on Jain’s statement, which was recorded two years after his initial statement.

The court’s judgment highlighted the lack of evidence against Justice Yadav and criticised the CBI’s investigation. The court stated that it would be “immature and imprudent” to accept the CBI’s contention that a sitting high court judge would receive illegal gratification in a matter decided five months prior to the alleged transaction.