Madras HC judge recuses self over allegation lawyer took Rs 50 lakh to bribe him
Times of India
by SURESH KUMARFebruary 15, 2026
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A Madras High Court judge has stepped aside from hearing a criminal case after being accused of accepting a bribe of Rs 50 lakh from a senior advocate. The allegations, brought to light by a representation from the All India Lawyers' Association for Justice (AILAJ), claimed that the advocate had allegedly collected the money from a client, claiming it was meant to influence the judge's decision in favor of their case. Following these serious allegations, the judge referred the matter to the high court's vigilance cell and declined to hear the case further.
The case in question involved criminal revision and original petitions filed by N Ganesh Agarwal and Naresh Prasad Agarwal. These petitions were related to orders passed by a special judge handling Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases in Chennai. On February 5, when the matter came up for hearing, Justice M Nirmal Kumar received a communication from the Union Ministry of Law, which included the AILAJ representation. The letter alleged that the advocate had demanded Rs 50 lakh to secure favorable orders and claimed no action had been taken despite the payment.
The judge shared the allegations with the public prosecutor for CBI, K Srinivasan, and senior counsel Murali Kumaran. While the counsel argued that the allegations were false, Justice Nirmal Kumar emphasized the seriousness of such representations, stating they undermine judicial dignity. He decided to refer the matter to the vigilance cell for further investigation and instructed the case to be brought before the Chief Justice for appropriate action.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining judicial integrity and trustworthiness in India's legal system. Such allegations, even if unfounded, can cast doubt on public perceptions of fairness and impartiality within the judiciary. The referral to the vigilance cell underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in addressing such serious concerns.
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/15/2026