"Image Of Judiciary At Stake": Originality Of CD Pertaining To Audio Recording Of Shanti Bhushan Alleging Fixation Of Judges For Fee, Yet To Be Decided By Delhi Court

After Delhi Court directed the police to continue its probe for the second time into the 2011 case pertaining to a controversial CD involving conversation between former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan and politicians Mulayam Singh and Amar Singh, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pankaj Sharma, noted that investigation was not carried out properly and thus ordered the IO to investigate the matter on nine points, and submit the report by 28 Jan, 2021.

The matter came into limelight when a CD containing conversation between Shanti Bhushan and Mulayam Singh was recovered, wherein Bhushan alleged that his son Prashant Bhushan could fix a Judge and also remarked prevalent corruption in Judiciary.

Although Shanti Bhushan filed a complaint alleging that the CD was fabricated, the Delhi Police claimed that the CD was not fake and the audio therein was original. This came to be rejected by Tis Hazari Court and further investigation was ordered.

Now, two reports were submitted by the CFSL wherein one confirmed the originality of the CD while the other claimed fabrication. The CD was then sent to CERT-In which said that "audio file containing the conversation was continuous with no sign of abrupt changes or editing marks."

The point to be noted is that even when the report was directed to be submitted by Jan 28, 2021, the process appears to be not completed yet. The Blot on Judiciary is still glued, until the originality of the CD gets decided.

The Advocates maligning the image of Judges are to restrained, otherwise the faith of common and neitzens in the Judicial system will be eroded. The action of police officials in delaying the submission of final investigation report, is canvassing doubt on their efforts.

Case Title: State Vs. Untrace PS Special Cell [CC No. 24006/2016, FIR No. 47/2011]