Chandigarh, March 29: A Special CBI Court in Chandigarh has acquitted former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge, Justice (Retd) Nirmal Yadav, and four other individuals in the much-publicized 2008 cash-at-judge's door scandal.
The judgment was delivered on Saturday by Special CBI Judge Alka Malik, bringing an end to the prolonged legal battle that had been the subject of intense public and media scrutiny.
The case, which made headlines for its sensational nature, revolved around an alleged incident on August 13, 2008, when a packet containing a substantial sum of Rs 15 lakh was mistakenly delivered to the residence of Justice Nirmaljit Kaur, a serving judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The packet was said to have been intended for Justice Nirmal Yadav, with claims that the money was part of an illicit attempt to influence a judicial decision concerning a property dispute.
The controversy erupted when it was suggested that the cash was being offered as a bribe to Justice Yadav to sway her ruling in favor of a specific party involved in the deal. The delivery of the packet at the wrong judge’s door sparked a wide-ranging investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which led to the charges being brought against Yadav and several others.
After years of investigation, hearings, and legal proceedings, the Special CBI Court ruled in favor of the accused, stating that there was insufficient evidence to support the charges. As a result, Justice Nirmal Yadav and the other four individuals who were facing accusations were acquitted of all charges. The court's verdict on Saturday concluded the legal proceedings surrounding this high-profile case.
