New Delhi [India], May 24 (HBTV): The Delhi High Court has transferred a special judge of the Rouse Avenue Court following allegations that he demanded a bribe to grant bail in a GST-related case registered in 2023.

On May 16, 2025, an FIR was registered against the court’s record keeper under sections related to corruption. The High Court subsequently issued the judge’s transfer order on May 20.

The accused court staff approached the High Court seeking to quash the FIR, but the court has not granted any immediate relief. However, a notice has been issued to the State. During a hearing before Justice Amit Mahajan on May 20, additional counsel for the State submitted that relevant material had already been sent to the Principal Secretary of Law, Government of NCT of Delhi, in January 2025, and was submitted before the Administrative Committee of the High Court through the Registrar General.

It was further submitted that there is sufficient material on record to justify the allegations made in the FIR, which requires investigation.

Senior Counsel Mohit Mathur, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the FIR was registered after a May 16 order by the Special Judge (PC Act), Rouse Avenue Courts, which issued a show cause notice to the Joint Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Branch, questioning why a contempt reference should not be made to the High Court.

It was further submitted that the petitioner was posted as an Ahlmad (record keeper) in the said court and that the FIR was registered the same day.

The High Court has listed the matter for hearing on May 29. The petitioner has requested that the case be transferred from the Anti-Corruption Branch to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a fair and proper probe, or that the allegations against him be investigated by the same CBI officer in accordance with the law laid down by the Supreme Court.

Additionally, the petitioner has sought a departmental enquiry against two officers of the Anti-Corruption Branch, Government of NCT of Delhi, citing alleged involvement in underhand dealings, corruption, blackmail, criminal intimidation, abuse of office, misuse of state machinery, forgery, fabrication of documents, abduction, intimidation of witnesses, and destruction of official records.

He has also sought protection from victimisation under Section 11(2) of the Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2011.

Meanwhile, the accused court staff moved the trial court seeking anticipatory bail, which was dismissed on May 22. Special Judge Deepali Sharma rejected the anticipatory bail plea.

However, the court directed the Anti-Corruption Branch to provide prior notice under Sections 41 and 41A of CrPC (Section 35 of BNSS) in the event of any arrest.

(ANI)