Final arguments conclude in 17-year-old cash-at-judge’s door case     

Final arguments by the prosecution and the defence have concluded  in a 17-year-old cash-at-judge's-door case.

After hearing the rebuttal arguments by the prosecution on Friday, Alka Malik, Special Judge, CBI Court, has adjourned  the hearing of the case for February 19.

“It has been brought to the notice of the court that a petition under Section 528 of the BNSS (Section 482 Cr.PC), filed on behalf of the CBI, is pending before the High Court at Chandigarh and the same is fixed for February  17. On these premises, propriety demands that this court shall wait for the orders from the High Court at Chandigarh. Proceedings are, therefore, adjourned to February 19 for awaiting orders, if any, from the High Court. Accordingly, orders shall be pronounced in this case thereafter,” said the court in the order.

The Chandigarh Police had registered the FIR in the case on August 16, 2008, on the complaint of Amrik Singh, a peon working at the residence of Justice Nirmaljit Kaur.

As per the FIR, a person named Parkash Ram came to the house of Justice Nirmaljit Kaur with a plastic bag in his hand on August 13, 2008, and told the peon that papers had come from Delhi to be delivered to Justice Kaur.

Amrik Singh took the plastic bag inside.

On being directed by Justice Kaur, Amrik Singh opened the bag which was found containing currency notes. On being directed by Justice Kaur, the peon caught hold of Parkash Ram with the help of guard Gurvinder Singh and thereafter, the local police was called who detained Parkash Ram.

Initially, the case was investigated by the local police but subsequently, the matter was referred to the CBI on August 26, 2008, by the then Governor of Punjab and Administrator of UT, Chandigarh.

After the competent authority on March 1, 2011, granted sanction for prosecution of Justice Nirmal yadav, a charge-sheet was presented in the court of Special Judge (CBI Court), Chandigarh, against Justice Nirmal Yadav and other accused, namely Sanjiv Bansal, Rajiv Gupta, Nirmal Singh and Ravinder Singh.

The CBI court framed the charges against the accused in 2014 after her plea for stay on proceedings of the trial was dismissed by the Supreme Court.

During the concluding  arguments, Vishal Garg Narwana, counsel for Justice Nirmal Yadav, denied the allegations and claimed  that she was falsely implicated in the case. Narwana said that there was no evidences against her in the case.

All other accused also denied allegations. However, Narendra Singh, Public Prosecutor, argued during the rebuttal that the prosecution had proved the case beyond a shadow of doubt.