No records of Ghaziabad law college inspection: BCI

The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Wednesday said it had no inspection records of the Ghaziabad-based law college from which two of its members are alleged to have taken a bribe.

The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Wednesday said it had no inspection records of the Ghaziabad-based law college from which two of its members are alleged to have taken a bribe.

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"We have checked all our records. There is no inspection report in our records related to the Global Law College, Ghaziabad. Therefore, the question of any favour does not arise," said a senior BCI official.

The BCI, the apex regulator for the legal profession and education in the country, also said member Rajinder Singh Rana - arrested by the CBI for allegedly accepting a Rs 1-lakh bribe - and council vice-chairman Dhanpal Raj - also booked by the CBI for graft - would be given an opportunity to explain their position "internally".

Council member Ashok Parija added, "The BCI wants to set the record straight that its role is transparent and limited. An incorrect impression has been created as if we are the sole authority responsible for recognition of law colleges in the country."

"Our role is confined only to the final approval of recognition. Before that, a no-objection certificate from the state government and affiliation from the concerned university are mandatory," he sought to clarify.

He refused to comment further on the CBI probe "since the issue is before the court", but he did say the investigating agency was looking into the role of individuals "and the organisation is not linked".

Rana, who was arrested by the CBI on Monday, will be produced in court on Thursday after a two-day remand.

Also, CBI sources said on Wednesday that they had found two more lockers in Chennai, allegedly belonging to Raj. Raj is on anticipatory bail granted by the Madras high court on Tuesday.