Now Reading: Karnataka HC refuses to quash FIR in cash-for-bail scam
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Karnataka HC refuses to quash FIR in cash-for-bail scam
The Karnataka High Court has refused to quash an FIR against advocate Dayeena Banu for allegedly demanding Rs 50 lakh to bribe a judge for bail. Justice M Nagaprasanna held that such…
The Story in Brief
The Karnataka High Court has refused to quash an FIR against advocate Dayeena Banu for allegedly demanding Rs 50 lakh to bribe a judge for bail. Justice M Nagaprasanna held that such allegations go beyond ordinary cheating and threaten institutional integrity, so investigation must proceed. The FIR was registered after litigant VP Theresa complained directly to the court that Banu and others took money to pay Justice HP Sandesh in her son’s murder case. Another advocate, Marina Fernandes, allegedly took Rs 10 lakh, and a woman named Aarathi took Rs 72,000. Banu had argued the cheating offence was not made out and sought to stop the probe.
The court ruled that when allegations involve judicial orders for money, the matter becomes an institutional concern requiring full investigation. The judge dismissed the petition, allowing the Vidhana Soudha police to continue their inquiry.
The Indian Opinion
This case fuels the lazy narrative that judges are easily bought. The court rightly sees the institutional threat, but the accused advocate remains innocent until proven. The real test is whether the investigation follows evidence, not headlines. If the probe finds that no judge was ever approached, the focus should shift to how touts exploit desperate families. Will the charge sheet name anyone inside the judiciary?
Sources (3): livelaw.in, barandbench.com, deccanherald.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
