A Chandigarh court has acquitted former Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Nirmal Yadav in a corruption case, ruling that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) manipulated evidence to implicate her. The verdict, delivered on March 29 by Special Judge (CBI) Alka Malik, strongly criticized the agency for deviating from its initial closure report and relying on an unreliable witness.
The case dates back to August 2008, when a bag containing ₹15 lakh was mistakenly delivered to the residence of Justice Nirmaljit Kaur instead of Justice Yadav. The money, allegedly intended as a bribe linked to a property dispute judgment, triggered an investigation. While the CBI initially sought to close the case, it later filed charges in 2011.
Central to the prosecution’s claims was the testimony of Raj Kumar Jain, a former Additional District Judge who had lost a legal battle in Justice Yadav’s court. However, the trial court dismissed his statements as inconsistent and motivated by personal grievance, calling them a “bundle of improvements” over time. The court noted that the CBI had “picked up a person highly aggrieved” by Justice Yadav’s ruling and “used his services to weave a case” against her.
Further casting doubt on the CBI’s theory, the court pointed out the improbability of a sitting judge accepting a bribe five months after delivering a verdict. It also highlighted that key prosecution witnesses had turned hostile, weakening the case.
Ultimately, the court ruled that the prosecution had “miserably failed” to prove guilt, acquitting all accused, including Justice Yadav. The judgment underscored concerns over investigative integrity, raising serious questions about the CBI’s conduct in the case.
