Govt to look into HC judge's allegation of minister pressure

Union law minister Veerappa Moily today said he would look into the allegation made by a Madras High Court judge that a Union minister had tried to influence him to grant anticipatory bail to a doctor and his son in a forged mark sheets case filed by the CBI.

"I would verify the case. Let me verify the case first then I can comment on it. It is only through media that I came to know that this particular thing has happened. Let me see what has happened," Moily said.

The minister, however, added that the law ministry should not intervene in all these matters which has to be looked into by law officers or by the judiciary.

"Normally we don't react to these matters. What happens in court or what remarks made by High Court judge; these are the matters which has to be looked into by law officers or by the respective judiciary," he said.

In a startling revelation, justice R Reghupathy, a Madras High Court judge had revealed yesterday in an open court that a Union minister allegedly sought to influence him.

Demanding an unconditional apology from the minister, the judge told the counsel appearing for the accused, "A Union minister talked to me about the matter. You yourself know every thing. Unless an unconditional apology is tendered by you, I will incorporate every detail in my order".

The judge, however, did not name the minister.

The CBI had filed a case against the father-son duo for allegedly using the services of a Puducherry University official and a middle man to inflate the marks of Shridhar.