Gujarat: 2 judicial magistrates held for ‘corruption’

Judicial magistrates (First Class) A D Acharya, posted at Shihor, Bhavnagar district, and P D Inamdar, posted at Jamkhambaliya, Jamnagar district, were held following an FIR and their suspensions ordered by the high court last month. There are 10 other accused in the case, including nine lawyers.

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They have been booked under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and under Sections 466 (forgery of record of courts), 471 (using forged documents as genuine), 196 (use of false evidence) among others of the Indian Penal Code.

The 25-page FIR alleged that the two judicial magistrates, then posted at Vapi JMFC court, Valsad district, were captured in spy cameras fitted in their chairs and below their tables by complainant Jagat Patel, a Vapi-based lawyer. The recordings, both in audio and video format, revealed that the two were found “settling money” with the accused lawyers to favour defence cases.

The recordings were from February 2014 to April 2014.

Anticipating arrest, the two accused moved the high court on September 7 seeking protection. Justice J B Pardiwala, however, refused to entertain their petition and noted, “Prima facie, it appears to be a case of a large scale scam. The two applicants, herein, who are judicial officers, have tarnished the image of the judiciary to a considerable extent. The facts of the case are very gross and disturbing. It is expected of the two judicial officers to appear before the Investigating Officer and give their statements. There is no reason for me to believe at this stage that the Investigating Officer will not act in accordance with law. The same is, accordingly, rejected.”