Former Supreme Court judge justice (retd) VR Krishna Iyer and other legal experts on Monday demanded a high-level probe into various allegations against family members of the former Supreme Court Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan.
Malayalam TV channel Asianet News and
HT had reported
on Sunday that Balakrishnan's son-in-law, PV Sreenijan, a Congress leader and lawyer, amassed crores of rupees in the past four years.
A Congress candidate in the 2006 assembly elections from Ernakulam district, he had just Rs. 25,000 in his bank and no land but went on to amass property worth at least Rs. 7 crore in the following four years.
Talking to HT, Iyer said he was really happy when a Dalit rose to the highest post in the judiciary but now he felt sad.
"I was shocked to hear the news. All allegations should be inquired into. I feel ashamed that I was a judge," he said adding that allegations against Balakrishnan should be probed by a three-judge panel. "Besides the son-in-law, I heard many other relatives have turned filthy rich. I feel it is judicial jettisoning."
Former CPM MP Sebastain Paul, a leading lawyer, said it would be ideal for Balakrishnan to quit (as National Human Rights Commission chairman) and come clean for the sake of the judiciary.
Another party MP, MB Rajesh, said, "The latest report is only the tip of the iceberg. We have clinching evidence to show that Sreenijan owns properties at various places including Tamil Nadu, Bangalore and Dubai," he said.
State Congress chief Ramesh Chennithala said he would look into the charges against Sreenijan, now a member of the party state committee.