Orissa HC raps lawyer for taking Rs 16L, gold chain and bracelet from client to bribe judge

The Orissa High Court recently came down heavily on a lawyer who has been accused of taking over Rs 16 lakh, a gold chain and a bracelet from a client on the pretext of using the same to bribe a judge. The High Court also refused to quash an FIR lodged against the lawyer, the Bar and Bench reported.

Justice Sibo Sankar Mishra dismissed the lawyer’s plea to quash the FIR and imposed costs of Rs 10,000 on him.

“The Court is not inclined to quash the FIR as the allegations are not only at a nascent stage of investigation but also as quite serious in nature as the name of a former Judge of this Court has been soiled,” the Court said.

“The facts of the present case, as alleged, would show that the Petitioner has insinuated and attributed wrongdoing to a former judge of this Court… The informant is aware of the social status of the Petitioner as an advocate. No common person would normally dare to make false allegations of such grim nature against a member of the bar knowingly fully well there would be dire consequences in case the allegations are found to be false or motivated,” the Court observed.

The Court also directed the State Bar Council of Orissa to hold an inquiry into the allegations.

In her FIR, the bail seeker’s wife alleged that she paid Rs 16.35L to one Anil Kumar Patra in Bhubaneswar on the lawyer's instruction. Additionally, she claimed to have given the lawyer a gold chain (65 grams) and a gold bracelet (50 grams) who asked her on the pretext of gifting it to the judge’s daughter who was to hear her husband’s bail plea.

The FIR stated that land deeds were also later transferred to the lawyer on his demand. However, the lawyer continued to demand more money, and he demanded an additional Rs 16L.