Kerala HC judge recuses self after offered bribe by gold smuggling ring

 The Kerala High Court witnessed high drama  on Monday when Justice KT Sankaran told the open court that an accused in a notorious gold smuggling case offered him crores to give a favourable verdict. After the revelation, the judge recused self from further proceedings in the case. 

"The accused offered crores of rupees as a bribe to me and an advance of Rs 25 lakh. They also promised to pay an enormous amount if I gave a favourable verdict," the Justice Sankaran said.  He made the revelation while considering a petition by the accused in the Nedumbassery gold smuggling case questioning the imposition of Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA) against them. The judge, however, did not reveal the name of the accused that offered him the bribe. 

The judge said that he decided to reveal the reason behind the recusal as judges have come under criticism for withdrawing themselves from hearing some controversial cases in the past. 

As many as 20 persons, including Jabin K Basheer, an officer with the Immigration Department and ground handling officials of Kochi International Airport at Nedumbassery were by the Customs officials for allegedly smuggling in 2000 kilogrammes of gold through the airport. The accused are under preventive detention at Poojappura Central Jail. 

 Operating from Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam, the gang had allegedly smuggled in gold worth Rs 400 crore between 2013 and 2015 before the Customs busted the ring. The racket was busted after the Special Investigation and Intelligence Branch of Customs seized gold from under the seat of a bus ferrying passengers from terminal to aircraft.
 

• justice KT Sankaran
• bribe to high court judge
• Nedumbassery gold smuggling