Madras High Court judge accuses Raja of trying to influence him

senior lawyer known to be a close associate of former Telecom Minister A Raja has been suspended from his post in the Tamil Nadu Bar Council for attempting to influence a judge, Justice R Raghupathy.

RK Chandramohan is the Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Bar Council. He allegedly tried to influence Justice Raghupathy to grant anticipatory bail to his client - a man named Dr Krishnamurthy and his son - both men were wanted by the CBI for forging mark-sheets.

Last year, the judge stirred a giant controversy when he said in court that a union minister had tried to influence him. Now, today's judgement which dismisses Chandramohan from the Bar Council refers to a letter by Justice Raghupathy written in June 2009. "On 12-6-2009 at about 2 pm during lunch recess while I was in the chamber, HC Madras, my office assistant Mujabur Ali informed me that Mr Chandramohan, Chairman, Bar Council of TN, is waiting and seeking an appointment to meet me...and immediately I allowed him to come in. To start with, he discussed general subjects on advocates. He said that 2 persons, father & son accused in a criminal case are family friends of Union Minister Raja and that the petition filed by them for anticipatory bail must be considered favourably. Simultaneously, he handed over his mobile phone by saying that the Union Minister is on the line to have a talk with me. Right away, I discouraged such conduct of Mr Chandramohnan and told him that the case would be disposed off in accordance with law."

Raja was forced to quit as Telecom Minister last month after a report by the government's auditor found him guilty of under-valuing 2G spectrum and circumventing the rules to favour companies who did not meet the eligibility criteria for spectrum licenses. Raja is a key leader of the DMK and his party's chief, M Karunanidhi, has defended him staunchly.

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