After CJI NV Ramana's Rebuke, CBI Arrests 5 Over Derogatory Posts Against Judges

CJI NV Ramana had sharply criticised the investigative agencies and police for not taking up complaints filed by judges.

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New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested 2 more people for writing alleged derogatory posts on social media against Chief Justice Of India NV Ramana. The action comes after CJI criticised the CBI and IB that the agencies are “not helping the judiciary at all” in matters relating to the security of judges. It said police and CBI do not respond to complaints from judges.

A total of 5 accused have been arrested in the case so far, as informed by PTI.

Heading a two-judge bench which took up the suo moto case registered by the Supreme Court in connection with the death of Dhanbad Additional Judge Uttam Anand. Chief Justice of India N V Ramana said when judges file a complaint to the police or the CBI or others, these agencies do not respond.

"They think it is not a priority item for them. The IB, CBI are not helping the judiciary at all. I am making this statement with a sense of responsibility and I know the incident that is the reason I am saying this. I do not want to divulge more than this, the CJI said. "This is a new trend developed in the country, unfortunately. There is no freedom to a judge even to give a complaint. The CBI has done nothing. We have expected some change in the CBI's attitude but there is no change. Sorry to say, this is the situation", said CJI Ramana.

The top judge also said, "there are several cases in the country which involve gangsters and where high profile people are accused” and that judges are sometimes “threatened mentally also by sending messages on WhatsApp, SMS” or harassed through social media posts and investigating agencies should take action regarding them.

How was the Dhanbad additional judge murdered?

28 July 2021, Day - Wednesday, Time - 5 am. Judge Uttam Anand was returning to his house after the morning walk. The road was completely deserted. The judge was walking on the left side of the road. At the same time, an auto-rickshaw came from behind. The rickshaw was running straight in the middle of the road, but then suddenly it turned towards Judge Uttam Anand and ran away after hitting him. This entire incident was recorded on CCTV.

After a while, he was spotted by the locals lying on the roadside. They admitted him to Shaheed Nirmal Mahato Medical College and Hospital. He died during treatment. When he did not return home till 7 a.m., the family members informed the Sadar police station. Police launched a search for him. Police reached the hospital after receiving information about an unclaimed dead body. The judge's bodyguard identified his body.

Meanwhile, the bench issued notice to the CBI after it was informed by the Jharkhand government that investigation into the death of the judge in Dhanbad has been handed over to the probe agency. The apex court also asked all the states to file status reports explaining what security they are providing to the judicial officers.

The state government also informed that it had constituted a 22-member special investigation team (SIT) that had arrested the two drivers of the auto-rickshaw which had hit the judge when he was on a morning walk on July 28.

Ranjan said the case has now been handed over to the CBI.

“We will hear the Jharkhand matter on Monday (August 9). We are issuing notice to the CBI,” the bench said. It asked Jharkhand's counsel whether they have provided adequate security at the residence of judges in the state.

(With PTI inputs)