Chennai:
A week ago Justice Regupathi of the Madras High Court said a union minister was trying to pressure him into giving anticipatory bail to two people accused in a criminal case.
Now, in a letter to the chief justice, he says the minister did not talk to him, but the lawyer of the accused called the minister on his phone and asked the judge to speak which he did not. Constitution experts say even this is bad enough.
"If this is the case that lawyer went to judge chambers and called the minister on his mobile, the minister can't and shouldn't be let off," said Rajeev Dhawan, Constitution Expert.
The judge hasn't named the minister yet but Jayalalithaa is pointing fingers at IT Minister A Raja who denies the charge.
"It's categorically clear, baseless and politically motivated," said A Raja, Union I T Minister.
Activists are not giving up. A PIL has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking a probe by the CBI.
Raja's party, the DMK hasn't reacted yet other than saying - let the judge name the minister. Trouble may not be over for Raja yet. First it was the spectrum scam allegation that was an embarrassment for the government. But this time, he finds his name in a more serious controversy.