Unable to bear the psychological pressure brought to bear on him by counsel for Sahara chief Subrata Roy while seeking his release on bail, Justice J.S. Khehar has recused himself from hearing the case.
On May 6, a Bench of Justices K.S. Radhakrishnan (since retired) and Khehar pronounced a 207-page judgment rejecting Mr. Roy’s plea to release him on bail and dismissed his petition challenging the March 4 order sending him to Tihar jail.
It said such an order was justified to enforce compliance with the direction to repay over Rs. 20,000 crore to depositors.
The same evening, Justice Khehar wrote to the Supreme Court Registry that in future, all cases relating to Sahara should not be posted before him as he was recusing himself from the case.
On Thursday, a senior official from the Registry, while confirming the receipt of the letter from Justice Khehar, said it was placed before the Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha immediately, and, on May 7, the CJI constituted the Bench hearing the matter.
The official, however, refused to divulge the names of the two judges who will hear the case.