The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against six persons, including two employees with the Allahabad High Court, for allegedly stealing and destroying court documents.
In September last year, the Allahabad High Court had directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry into the missing High Court and lower court documents in a particular case. The agency submitted its report on January 18.
According to the CBI, the files were stolen in connivance with two peons posted with the High Court — Dilip Kumar Chandel and Narendra Kumar. The others named in the FIR are Subhash Chandra, Chandra Veer Singh, Basudev and Rajvir. On further directions of the High Court, the CBI has now registered a case against the accused persons, booking them under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Untraced files
The theft came to light when a Division Bench of the High Court was hearing a criminal appeal. The case files were sent to the Court on July 25 last year. The lower court record was returned to the office the same day. The High Court file was returned two days later and the same was received in the criminal appeal section. However, both the files could not be traced later.
The High Court, during the next hearing on August 31 last year, observed that there would be no option, but to cancel the bail of the accused persons Basudev and Rajbir, and issue a direction for enquiry. In September, the Court directed the Registrar General to look into the matter and submit a report.
