Former Patiala special CBI judge suspended

Former special CBI Judge in Patiala,Hemant Gopal,who was recently transferred to Faridkot,was on Monday placed under suspension

Former special CBI Judge in Patiala,Hemant Gopal,who was recently transferred to Faridkot,was on Monday placed under suspension. His suspension order was passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in a full court (attended by all high court judges) meeting.

Gopal,along with other judges,was transferred from Patiala last week on the directions of the high court. However,in a full court meeting held on Monday,it was decided that he be suspended with immediate effect.

Recently,Gopal had convicted Mansa District Planning Committee Chairman and former MLA Mangat Rai Bansal and 21 others in a 14-year-old case of paddy embezzlement case. Those convicted have been sentenced to seven-year rigorous imprisonment. Along with Congress-turned-SAD leader Bansal,rice millers primarily from Bareta in Mansa and FCI officials were convicted for their role in the supply and procurement of substandard rice.

Last month,Bansal had levelled serious allegations against Gopal. The special court judge convicted me in a wrong manner,as I had exposed a bribery scandal involving him. I am the victim of a political conspiracy and CBI officials are playing into the hands of big politicians. The case against me and my supporters is false. The truth will be out soon,as I have full faith in the high court, he had alleged.

On August 12,the Punjab and Haryana High Court had granted bail to Bansal and four others.

According to sources,the high court last month had received a complaint levelling serious allegations against Gopal. Taking cognizance of the complaint,the court on Monday suspended Gopal an additional district and sessions judge.

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