Petition against former CJI returns for curing defect

Inquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) here, V Jayaram observed that the first respondent Balakrishnan would not come under the jurisdiction of the court and directed the petitioner to submit a fresh petition in two weeks, removing the name of the former CJI.

The judge gave the direction while returning the petition filed by George Battukulam, State President of Malayalavedi, (Malayalam Forum) against Balakrishnan, his brother K G Bhaskaran and son-in-law P V Sreenijan.

Battukulam had in his complaint on January 5, sought an investigation into alleged amassing of wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income by the respondents, "with the interference of Balakrishnan in his capacity as CJI".

The judge said the petitioner has not produced any documents, except newspaper clippings, as evidence to try and substantiate the allegation against the respondents

Vattukulam submitted a fresh petition today itself, with the respondents being Bhaskaran, Sreenijan and M B Benny.

Coming under the cloud of the allegations, Sreenijan had resigned from the Youth Congress membership, while Bhaskaran had relinquished the post of government pleader in the High Court. A Vigilance probe is on against Sreenijan.