Karnataka High Court Judge Himachal Pradesh Sandesh on Monday alleged that the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) was pulled up and threatened with transfer.
Justice Sandesh made the remarks while hearing a bail plea of Mahesh PS, a former Bengaluru urban tehsildar, who was caught allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh in May 2021.
Mahesh had claimed in a statement that he had received the bribe on the instructions of the then Bengaluru Urban DC J Manjunath.
Significantly, hours after Monday’s hearing, the ACB said that it has arrested IAS officer Manjunath.
Earlier in the day, Justice Sandesh had criticized the ACB for failing to provide the appointment record of accused number two Chetan.
The High Court in its last hearing had also pulled up the ACB for calling it a “centre of corruption”.
On Monday, Justice Sandesh told open court that he was informed by a fellow judge that he may be transferred as the ADGP was not happy with his remarks.
“Your ACB ADGP (IPS officer Seemant Kumar Singh) seems to be a powerful man. I was told by my fellow judge that I might be transferred for the comments. I will record the transfer threat in the order.
He said that it is a threat to the independence of the judiciary and the threat given to the court.
Pulling up the ACB and the counsel appearing for it, Justice Sandesh said they were not afraid of losing any post. “I am not afraid of anyone, I am the son of a farmer and am ready to till the land. I do not belong to any political party or ideology but only to the Constitution. I have not accumulated any property after becoming a judge but have sold 4 acres of land which was with my father,” he said.
Taking a dig at the advocate, the High Court judge further said: “Are you protecting the public or the tainted persons? It is a noble profession. The black coat is not for the protection of the corrupt. corruption has happened cancer And it should not reach the fourth stage. Extortion is being done from the officers by threatening search warrants.
“The entire state is suffering due to corruption issues. If there is vitamin M (money), you (acb) will protect someone. I am aware of events. In how many cases search warrants have been issued and how many have been executed,” he asked.