Punjab & Haryana High Court Issues Notice On Plea To Prosecute Punjab Judge Under PMLA

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice on plea seeking investigation under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) against a Family Court Judge at Faridkot for allegedly practising corruption and misusing his office as Judicial Officer.

Considering the allegations, a division bench of Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji has issued notice of motion to the State.

A resident of Bathinda, Mahavir Kumar has moved the Court alleging that the said Judge, who was earlier posted as Additional Session Judge at Patiala, has "enriched himself illicitly" during the period of his office.

It is submitted that the Judicial Officer is in possession of pecuniary resources and property, "quite disproportionate" to his known source of income. Thus, the Judge has committed criminal misconduct as a public servant (Judicial Officer) as envisaged under the provisions of Section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, adds the petition.

The petitioner contends that the Judge has also committed the offence of money-laundering as under Section 3 of PMLA.

Giving details of the assets, Kumar has stated that the Judge has acquired at least 26 immovable properties "through the money obtained by him through its touts etc. as a bribe", and some of the properties have been purchased in the name of his family.

Kumar said that in September 2022 he submitted an exhaustive complaint to various authorities including Chief Justice and all the Judges of the High Court and an administrative inquiry has been conducted into the said complaint. However, the findings of the enquiry into the aforesaid complaint are not yet known to him, he added.

In the light of the above the petitioner has sought directions to the Enforcement Directorate to investigate into the matter to prosecute the Judge under PMLA.

The matter is now listed for January 24, for further consideration.

Senior Advocate R.S. Bains appeared for the petitioner,

DAG Arjun Sheoran for Punjab and Advocate Ranjit Kara for High Court Registrar Office.