Amidst demand for a probe into charges that former Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan’s son-in-law had amassed disproportionate assets, Law Minister M Veerappa Moily on Tuesday said the matter needs to be verified.
“The demand by (former Supreme Court judge) Justice V R Krishna Iyer...how far the former CJI, Justice Balakrishnan was involved in it. Whether he has misused his office as CJI - these matters have to be verified. Without basis I cannot speak (on it),” he told reporters in Bangalore.
Justice Iyer had yesterday demanded a high-level probe into the issue. He suggested that a three-judge panel should go into the allegations.
Justice Balakrishnan’s son-in-law P V Sreenijin has allegedly amassed wealth to the tune of several crores in the past four years.
Mr. Sreenijin, who had declared only assets worth Rs 25,000 in the affidavit filed in the 2006 Assembly polls (he was the Congress candidate from Njarackkal,) now allegedly owns several prime properties, including a riverside plot of 2.5 acres at Annamanada in Thrissur.
He and his wife Sony have also said to have acquired a flat in the city, a plum office space near the High Court and 25 cents of land at Elamakkara (in the suburbs of Kochi) where the construction of a bungalow is in progress, according to media reports.
Both Mr. Sreenijin and Ms. Sony are practising advocates.
