No Case Found Against Advocate Saiby Jose Kidangoor On Allegations Of Taking Money To Bribe Judges : Police Tell Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court on Monday was informed by the State Police that it would be dropping charges on the bribery allegations against Advocate Saiby Jose Kidangoor. 

Advocate Saiby had been accused of collecting money from clients under the pretext of bribing High Court judges. The lawyer had approached the High Court seeking to quash the FIR that had been registered against him and to stay all further proceedings.

The Single Judge Bench of Justice K. Babu was informed by the Public Prosecutor today that the investigating agency had submitted a report stating that it would be dropping the charges and further action against Advocate Kidangoor, on not finding evidence against him. 

The Court however, directed the investigation report to be submitted before it. 

"Learned PP submits that the investigating agency submitted report under the caption further action dropped. PP shall produce the copy of the final report," the Court said. 

Advocate Saiby had averred in his plea that a group of three or four lawyers had concocted a false complaint to the Registrar General who in turn informed the State Police Chief to investigate the matter. The State Police Chief had directed the City Commissioner of Police to conduct a preliminary enquiry. However, the petitioner submitted that no concrete evidence had been brought out to inculpate the petitioner in the offence.

The petitioner further stated that none of those statements had revealed anything against the petitioner so as to justify the allegations levelled against him by the lawyers.

Advocate Saiby adds that in spite of the same, it was due to the unwarranted involvement of media persons and a group of three or four lawyers who had personal enmity towards him, that the crime was registered.

"A perusal of the entire allegations in the FIR shows that there are absolutely no ingredients to attract the sections either for committing any such offences either under Section 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act or Section 420 IPC. No cognizable offence is prima facie made out against the petitioner for investigating the matter, this matter falls under the rarest of the rare case where the petitioner was falsely implicated by a group of three or four lawyers and the police, and is therefore liable be quashed", the plea by Advocate Saiby states. 

The matter has been posted for further consideration on November 20, 2023 (Monday). 

The petitioner is represented by Senior Advocate S. Sreekumar, and Advocates K. Anand, Babu S. Nair, M.R. Nandakumar and Martin Jose P.

Case Title: Saiby Jose Kidangoor v. The State Police Chief & Ors.

Case Number: WP(Crl.) 110/ 2023