In a sharp rebuke on Friday, the Supreme Court chastised the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for its “scandalous allegations” against the judiciary in West Bengal. The allegations were part of a plea seeking the transfer of cases related to the 2021 post-poll violence outside the state.
The bench, comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Pankaj Mithal, responded sternly to the CBI’s portrayal of a “hostile environment” in West Bengal’s judicial system. “Mr. Raju, what kind of grounds are taken in this? How can you cast aspersions on the entire judiciary? You are showing as if there is a hostile environment in the whole of West Bengal,” Justice Oka remarked during the hearing.
The court’s dissatisfaction was directed towards Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who represented the CBI. He defended the wording in the petition as a result of “loose drafting,” asserting that there was no intention to undermine the state’s judiciary.
Following the court’s critical observation, Raju withdrew the transfer petition, acknowledging the inappropriate nature of the claims made against the judiciary. The Supreme Court’s order highlighted, “Scandalous allegations have been made against all the courts in general in West Bengal. It has been repeatedly averred that there is a hostile environment prevailing in the courts. It is very unfortunate that the central agency has chosen to cast aspersions on courts in West Bengal.”
The CBI initially filed the petition in December 2023, arguing that the alleged intimidation of witnesses necessitated the transfer of the cases outside West Bengal.
