Punjab and Haryana High Court orders CBI probe into claims that lawyer took money to bribe judge

The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate claims that an advocate took over ₹5 lakh from a litigant under the guise of bribing a judge and a government pleader [Ankush Dhanerwal v State of Punjab and Others].

Justice Sandeep Moudgil took note of the allegations against advocate Ankush Dhanerwal who himself had approached the Court for protection from an ex-sarpanch he had represented earlier in a case before the High Court.

Dhanerwal alleged that since the outcome of the case filed was unsatisfactory, the ex-sarpanch was threatening him for refund of the professional fees.

During the pendency of Dhanerwal’s plea, Chandigarh Police recorded a statement of the ex-sarpanch who alleged Dhanerwal had taken money from them to give it to the government pleader and judge.

In the order dated August 22, Justice Moudgil called the allegations serious and also noted that the CBI had only recently registered a case against another lawyer for accepting a bribe in the name of a judicial officer.

“The allegations made by Respondent No.6 against the petitioner [Dhanerwal] are of a serious nature, claiming that the petitioner demanded a sum to be paid to both the Government Pleader and the Judicial Officer. However, the names of the Government Pleader and the Judiciail Officer are not mentioned in the statement. It further indicates that the amount was actually paid in installments to the petitioner via Google Pay,” the Court said.

It thus referred the matter to the CBI with the directions to investigate all aspects diligently, and submit a detailed report,

“Having considered the factual aspects and the serious nature of the allegations involved, this Court finds it appropriate to refer the entire matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for an effective and thorough investigation. Given the complexity and sensitivity of the issues ranging not only from threats to the petitioner’s life to the serious charges of alleged misconduct against him as an advocate but raises questions of integrity of an important pillar of democracy i.e. judicial institution of which the Bench & Bar are two sides of a coin and indispensable companion, an independent agency’s involvement is necessary to ensure a fair and transparent inquiry,” the Court ordered.

Advocate Jatinder Pal Singh represented advocate Ankush Dhanerwal.

Deputy Advocate General JS Rattu represented the State of Punjab. Additional Public Prosecutor Ankur Bali appeared for UT Chandigarh. 

[Read Order]