Delhi judge transferred, court official booked as ACB probes bribe-for-bail allegations
New Delhi: The Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against a court ahlmad (record keeper) following allegations of a bribe-for-bail racket operating in the Rouse Avenue Court. The FIR, filed on May 16, comes amid mounting evidence suggesting a nexus involving demands for large sums of money in exchange for favourable bail orders.
The investigation stems from multiple complaints, including audio recordings, alleging that bribes were solicited to secure bail for accused individuals in a high-profile GST refund fraud case. Though the Special Judge who heard the bail applications has not been named in the FIR, he was transferred to another court on May 20, just four days after the case was registered.
According to *The Indian Express*, the matter first surfaced when the ACB sought permission from the Principal Secretary of the Department of Law, Justice, and Legislative Affairs on January 29 to investigate both the judge and the ahlmad. The request, based on prima facie evidence including recorded conversations and written complaints, was forwarded to the Delhi High Court.
However, the High Court denied permission to probe the judge, citing insufficient material, but allowed the investigation against the court official to continue. The court also stated that the ACB could renew its request for judicial inquiry should further evidence emerge.
Following this directive, the ACB has concentrated its probe on the ahlmad, who has since applied for anticipatory bail. During the hearing, his counsel argued that the FIR was fabricated, while the prosecution maintained that the ahlmad played a central role in facilitating bribe transactions. Prosecutors further contended that releasing him on bail could compromise the ongoing investigation.
The FIR details two key complaints. The first, filed on December 30, 2024, by a relative of one of the accused, alleged a demand of Rs 85 lakh for bail and Rs 1 crore each for other co-accused. A subsequent complaint received in January accused the ahlmad of offering to secure bail for three individuals for Rs 15–20 lakh each.
The High Court Registrar's response, referenced in the FIR, indicates that the court remains open to further action against the judge if new evidence surfaces during the probe.
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LIVE | Panchayat Election Results: Countdown to vote counting....
New Delhi: The countdown has begun for the counting of votes for the Assembly elections in five states that have captured the attention of people across the country.
The counting of votes for the Assembly constituencies of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and the Union Territory of Puducherry will begin simultaneously at 8 am, and the fate of candidates in a total of 824 constituencies will be decided shortly.
The counting of postal ballots will take place first, followed by the counting of EVM votes in several rounds.
- Five-state elections: Postal vote counting begins
- TMC, BJP lead in one seat each in West Bengal
In Tamil Nadu, DMK leads in 3 constituencies, while TVK leads in 1 - UDF leads in 5 seats in Kerala, BJP in 1, LDF in 1
- BJP leads in 2 seats, AIUDF in 1 in Assam
