Cash-at-door scam: Punjab & Haryana High Court stays framing of charges against Nirmal Yadav

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab & Haryana High Court today stayed the framing of charges against Justice (Retd) Nirmal Yadav by a CBI court in the 2008 cash-at-judge's door scam, observing that the matter needs "deep consideration".


The court headed by Justice Naresh Kumar Sanghi admitted the revision petition filed by Yadav challenging the special CBI court's July 31 order for framing of charges against her and other accused in the case.

The HC passed orders for listing of the revision petition for next hearing within three months and sought the entire trial court record in the case.

Yadav's counsel S K Garg said, "with this order of the high court, the special CBI court would not proceed further for framing of charges against Yadav."

During the hearing, Garg argued that if the Supreme Court can examine former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar's opinion in the Coalgate scam, he too wanted the court to examine the then law minister's opinion given to the then attorney general of India on the issue of granting prosecution sanction against Yadav.

The special CBI court in its orders on July 31 had ordered framing of charges against Justice (Retd) Yadav, advocate Sanjiv Bansal, Ravinder Singh (hotelier), Rajiv Gupta and Nirmal Singh.

The CBI court was likely to frame charges in the case during the next hearing on September 16.

In August 2008, a parcel containing Rs 15 lakh allegedly meant for Justice Nirmal Yadav of the Punjab and Haryana High Court had been handed over to Justice Nirmaljit Kaur.

On November 11, 2010, the high court gave the nod for Justice Yadav's prosecution. On March 1, 2011, the President granted her prosecution sanction.