Odisha Police Books CBI Officials For Raiding ‘Wrong’ HC Judge

Now, retired judge Quddusi and four others have been arrested for corruption.

A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official gestures after conducting a raid. Photo used for representational purpose.

(Photo: Reuters)

Odisha Police has booked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials on Thursday, who conducted a raid on the official residence of Odisha High Court judge Chitta Ranjan Dash. Reason: The raids were to be conducted in the official residence of former Chief Justice Ishrat Masroor Quddusi – and not Dash.

The goof-up occurred when the CBI officials on Tuesday tried to enter Dash’s residence under the mistaken impression that it was still occupied by the former Chief Justice.

Now, Quddusi, a retired judge, and four others have been arrested for corruption.

The Odisha High Court Bar Association did not take the ‘mistake’ lightly. They went on strike on Wednesday as a sign of protest. Later, Odisha High Court Chief Justice Vineet Saran issued a directive regarding the matter, and a case of criminal trespass against few CBI officials was lodged by the Cuttack police.

However, the CBI denied that they had entered the sitting judge's residence, and said that they had only ventured till the gate.

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