Judge behind unravelling of ‘cash-at-door scam’ retires

Chandigarh, January 27

Justice Nirmaljit Kaur of the Punjab and Haryana High Court — who retired today after delivering justice for more than 12 years — will be known for her judgments.

Just over a month after she was elevated as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in July 2008, a bagful of money was erroneously delivered at her residence. Puzzled but not the one to lose her cool, Justice Nirmaljit Kaur — who went on to deliver landmark judgments in high-profile matters such as the acquittal verdict in Salman Khan’s chinkaras’ poaching case — told the security to call up the police. What surfaced after the call was one of the worst scandals to rock the Indian judiciary. It was alleged after a probe that the money was meant for delivery at the residence of Judge Nirmal Yadav. The matter, which came to be known as ‘cash-at-door scam’, is still pending before the trial court. Justice Nirmaljit has already deposed as a prosecution witness via videoconferencing in the matter. — TNS