MPs ask PM to take action on judge`s charge against minister

New Delhi, July 31 (PTI) Keeping up pressure on the
government, a delegation of opposition MPs including those
from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of
India-Marxist (CPI-M), Communist Party of India (CPI) and All
India Anna Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Friday met
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and demanded action on the issue
of a Union minister allegedly trying to influence a Madras
High Court judge in a CBI case.

A memorandum, signed by 180 Member of Parliament
(MPs)--85 from Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament)
and 95 from Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament),
which was submitted to the Prime Minister of India, said that
he should get the matter investigated and make a statement in
both Houses of Parliament.

The delegation included Leader of Opposition in Rajya
Sabha Arun Jaitley, CPI(M) MP Brinda Karat, AIADMK leader M
Thambi Durai and CPI's D Raja.

Justice R Raghupathy of Madras High Court had made a
statement in the open court that a Union Minister had made a
telephoned call in a bid to influence the court in a case of a
marksheet forgery which was investigated by the Central Bureau
of Investigation (CBI). The Minister had allegedly suggested
that the accused be granted bail.

Emerging from the meeting, Rajya Sabha member Chandan
Mitra told reporters that the Prime Minister assured the MPs
that he would get back to them after examining the memorandum.

Mitra said the Prime Minister also told the delegation
that after the Chief Justice of India's clarification that the
Union minister had not spoken to the judge, how could the
government interfere in the matter relating to the judiciary.
PTI