Thiruvananthapuram:
A Congress MP from Kunnur, K Sudhakaran, in Kerala has raked up the issue of corruption in the judiciary.
At a public function, K Sudhakaran claimed he had knowledge of a Supreme Court judge receiving a bribe of 36 lakh rupees in 1994. This was allegedly to get a favourable verdict by a single judge bench in a case seeking restoration of cancelled bar licences. The MP however refused to name the judge.
"When the Kerala High Court cancelled 21 bar licences, to get it revoked from the Supreme Court, a judge of the apex court was bribed. I am witness to it," said K Sudhakaran.
Two days after he made that startling claim, he could not be traced even by his own party leaders. They have distanced the Congress from him.
"I tried to contact Mr Sudhakaran but I could not contact him to find out under what circumstances he said that. But the Congress party does not hold that view," said Oomen Chandy, Opposition leader, Kerala.
The Left Front government and former Supreme Court justice VR Krishna Iyer now want the top court to take this allegation seriously.
"When such revelations are made by responsible people, we cannot push it down the carpet. Unfortunately some Congress leaders are trying to do that. So we request the Supreme Court to take necessary action," said MA Baby, Education Minister, Kerala.
"I plead and plead very strongly that very strong action should be taken to restore the sublime position that the judiciary enjoys in our constitution," said V R Krishna Iyer, former Supreme Court judge.
The MP's charges have cast serious doubts on the credibility of the judiciary.