PF scam: Judges fail to appear in court again

The six retired and former district judges who were chargesheeted by the CBI in July 2010 in the Rs 6.58 crore Ghaziabad PF scam failed to appear in person at a CBI court in Ghaziabad for the second time on Monday.

The six retired and former district judges who were chargesheeted by the CBI in July 2010 in the Rs 6.58 crore Ghaziabad PF scam failed to appear in person at a CBI court in Ghaziabad for the second time on Monday.

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The six former judges—RP Mishra, Ajai Kumar Singh, Arun Kumar, RP Yadav, RS Chaubey and RN Mishra--had also been issued summons by the CBI Special Judge on December 21, 2010.

The counsels for the six judges appeared before the court and forwarded applications citing various legal, health and personal reasons for their not appearing in court.

Five of the six judges, RS Chaubey, RN Mishra, RP Mishra, Ajai Kumar Singh, Arun Kumar, sought exemption from a personal appearance citing reasons ranging from being unable to undertake long journeys, kin’s health conditions, financial and their own health conditions for not appearing in court.

RP Yadav sought exemption on Monday on grounds that he had not received a copy of the high court’s January 28 order, and also moved an application for further investigation in the case.

Previously, these judges had moved the Allahabad High Court for a revision against the summon orders issued by CBI Special Judge AK Singh. The court rejected the request on January 28.

The court exempted the six former judges from the hearing and sought an undertaking from them within a week that all six would appear in court at the next hearing scheduled on February 18.

The order further stated that if they failed to appear, non-bailable warrants would be issued against them. The court also issued orders for the other accused in the case.