Judge recuses self in Mamta drug racket case
Setting an example and giving out a message that the ‘judiciary is clean’, a judge of the Bombay High Court on Tuesday revealed that litigants made an attempt to ‘influence’ her. The judge accordingly refused to hear the bail plea filed by an accused in the alleged drug racket involving actress Mamta Kulkarni.
The bold stand was taken by Justice Revati MohiteDhere, who was supposed to hear the bail plea of Manoj Jain, accused in the drug racket. He had sought bail on the ground that the Thane police has no material to prosecute him.
Jain’s relatives happen to reside in the same locality where Justice MohiteDhere lives.
The moment when Jain’s bail plea was called, the statement of Justice Mohite-Dhere stunned all the advocates who were present in the court room.
Justice Mohite-Dhere said, “I cannot hear this case as the relatives of the accused live in my vicinity. They have also come to my house. Also, there was an attempt to influence me, so I would not hear the bail plea.”
Confirming the news, special prosecutor Shishir Hiray said, “I was there in the court and Justice MohiteDhere had specifically said that an attempt was made to influence her.”
“I personally as an advocate appreciate this candid move of Justice MohiteDhere. This reflects that the judiciary is clean,” Hiray added.