Daijiworld Media Network – Chandigarh
Chandigarh, Mar 29: In a significant ruling, a special CBI court on Saturday acquitted former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Nirmal Yadav in the 2008 corruption case, bringing an end to a long-standing legal battle.
The case originated in August 2008 when a bag containing ?15 lakh, allegedly intended for Justice Nirmal Yadav, was mistakenly delivered to the residence of another High Court judge, Justice Nirmaljit Kaur. The incident led to a high-profile investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.
A day before the verdict, the court heard the final arguments and reserved its judgment for March 29. Following the acquittal, Justice Yadav (retd) maintained her innocence, stating, “I have not committed any crime, and there was no incriminating evidence found against me during the trial.”
Her acquittal coincides with controversy surrounding Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Varma, who is facing allegations of possessing unaccounted wealth. Justice Varma was recently de-rostered after firemen, responding to a blaze at his Lutyens Delhi residence on March 14, allegedly discovered large amounts of cash. He has, however, strongly denied any wrongdoing, calling the accusations an attempt to malign him.
In Justice Yadav’s case, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered on August 16, 2008, followed by a transfer of the probe to the CBI on August 28. The CBI sought permission to prosecute her in January 2009, which was granted by the High Court in November 2010 and later approved by the President of India in March 2011. A chargesheet was filed the same month, with over 80 witnesses testifying during the trial.
With the court ruling in her favor, Justice Yadav has been cleared of all charges, concluding a 16-year-long legal ordeal.