CBI on verge of identifying ‘corrupt’ Indian judge

The CBI is on the verge of identifying an Indian judge who allegedly received bribes from a US company to deliver a favourable order. It has been alleged that the judge belonged to the Customs, Excise and Gold (Control) Tribunal (CEGAT).

The CBI is on the verge of identifying an Indian judge who allegedly received bribes from a US company to deliver a favourable order. It has been alleged that the judge belonged to the Customs, Excise and Gold (Control) Tribunal (CEGAT).

HT Image

“We registered a formal FIR in the matter. We will soon identify the tribunal member who allegedly received money to give a favourable order. Tribunal members are equivalent to high court judges,” said an official on the condition of anonymity.

During the proceedings before the US Securities and Exchange Commission, it was alleged that officials belonging to the French subsidiary of Houston-based Pride International, an offshore drilling firm, paid a bribe of $5,00,000 for getting a favourable order from CEGAT in 2003. The US proceedings took place in 2010.

Following that, Pride International and its French subsidiary, Pride Forasol, agreed to pay a penalty for bribing officials in India and other countries.

“The US Securities and Exchange Commission alleged that the company gained around $10 million after getting a favourable order from the tribunal. We need to tie the payment of bribe with the suspect to put the case on a strong footing. We are gathering evidence in this regard,” the official said.

The CBI had taken up the matter in March last year. The Mumbai branch of the agency was entrusted with the case, and a preliminary inquiry was registered for verifying the allegations. A few months ago, the CBI brass shifted the case probe to the agency headquarters here.

After finding enough material in the preliminary inquiry, the CBI decided to lodge an FIR against the unknown judge and officials.