Complainant objects to shifting of probe against judge, writes to CJ

After the Punjab and Haryana high court has changed the inquiry officer in the bribery case against suspended special CBI judge Hemant Gopal, the complainant has filed a written objection with the chief justice. Already a discreet inquiry by high court vigilance registrar AK Tyagi has indicted additional session judge Hemant Gopal, which led the full court to suspend him and then order departmental inquiry against him that was assigned to the district and session judge at Rupnagar, where the statements of witnesses were being recorded when in early November, the inquiry was shifted to the district and session judge of Panchkula in Haryana. “The new inquiry officer is siding openly with the suspended judge and not doing his job in a fair manner, which is apparent from his conduct,” he further wrote, requesting the high court to move the case to the earlier officer at Rupnagar. High court vigilance registrar Tyagi had conducted the inquiry on the complaint of former legislator Bansal, based on a video suggesting a tout had demanded `40 lakh each from Bansal and two other accused on behalf of the judge.