Trespassing into judge’s house: HC serves notice to CBI, others

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Friday issued show-cause notices to the CBI and central and state governments in connection with the alleged case of trespassing against the agency sleuths.

Hearing a PIL, the court directed all parties involved to present the reason behind CBI officials entering the house of sitting HC judge Justice C R Dash late on Tuesday. The CBI has been asked to mention on whose permission they had made the visit. The next hearing of the issue is scheduled for October 16.

The Orissa High Court Bar Association had filed the PIL, demanding judicial probe into the incident by a retired Supreme Court judge or by a sitting High Court judge. Union Home Secretary, Director CBI, IG CBI, SP CBI, State Home Secretary, DGP, Twin City Police Commissioner, DCP Cuttack, IIC Cantonment Police Station and Registrar High Court were named respondents in the PIL.

The association had also resorted to cease work since Wednesday over the issue. It has, however, suspended the stir and will hold a meeting over the matter on October 19 to decide the course of action.

On September 19, a team of CBI sleuths had entered the official residence of Justice Dash while conducting searched in the houses which retired judge of Orissa HC IM Quddusi, arrested in a corruption case, had occupied earlier.

The Commissionerate police had suo motu registered a case against the CBI in the incident under Sections 120(B), 353, 511 and 34 of the IPC based on the report of the security personnel on duty.

The CBI, however, had refuted the allegation of trespassing in a press release.