Shreya Gupta
On May 29, 2025, the case concerning Mukesh Kumar, an ahlmad (record keeper) from the Rouse Avenue Court, has taken a complex turn. It is currently unfolding before the Delhi High Court. Kumar was recently booked by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on charges of accepting bribes.
The bribes were allegedly taken in exchange for facilitating bail for accused persons. Kumar has now raised serious concerns about the fairness of the investigation. He has also expressed worry about the influence of media coverage on the case.
During a recent hearing, his counsel, Senior Advocate Mohit Mathur, submitted before Justice Amit Sharma that sensitive and confidential documents, allegedly signed by the investigating officer (IO), were being leaked to the media, including visual platforms. Mathur stressed that these leaks compromise Kumar’s right to a fair trial, highlighting the circulation of signed transcripts and official materials that Kumar was not even officially entitled to access.
The High Court permitted Kumar’s legal team to submit additional documentation to substantiate their claims regarding these unauthorized disclosures. Representing the State, Additional Standing Counsel Sanjeev Bhandari requested the Court for time to file a response. The matter is now scheduled for further hearing on 2nd June.
The background of the case reveals deeper institutional ramifications. Following the registration of the bribery case against Kumar on 16th May, the Delhi High Court transferred the Special Judge (under the Prevention of Corruption Act) to Rohini, indicating the gravity of the accusations and their potential impact on judicial integrity. Notably, Kumar has denied the charges and claimed he is being falsely implicated as part of a broader conspiracy targeting the judge he was attached to.
Supporting this claim, it has been alleged that the ACB officer now investigating the case was earlier the subject of a complaint lodged by Kumar in January. This officer reportedly admitted in a recorded conversation with the judge that they were being targeted due to adverse judicial orders. The ACB had earlier sought permission from the Delhi government to investigate the judge himself, suggesting the presence of incriminating material.
However, the Delhi High Court, while granting the ACB liberty to proceed with its investigation into complaints, clarified that the material then available was insufficient to warrant a probe against the judicial officer.
As a result of the ongoing probe, Kumar has approached the High Court for anticipatory bail, simultaneously urging it to quash the First Information Report (FIR) against him or, alternatively, to transfer the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), presumably to ensure impartiality. Kumar is being represented by a high-powered legal team comprising Senior Advocates Mohit Mathur, Maninder Singh, and Tanveer Ahmed Mir, alongside a team from Justum Legal.
This case, involving allegations of judicial corruption, media leaks, and procedural irregularities, has raised significant questions about transparency, fairness in judicial processes, and the accountability of investigating agencies.
Bench: Justice Amit Sharma
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