Ranjan Gogoi Sexual Harassment Case: SC Closes Suo Motu Proceedings to Probe 'Larger Conspiracy'

New Delhi: The proceedings initiated to probe a 'larger conspiracy' to frame ex-Chief Justice of India CJI, Ranjan Gogoi in an alleged sexual harassment case and 'fixing' of benches in the top court has been disposed off today by the Supreme Court.

Back in 2019, the apex court registered the sou motu case to probe into the alleged conspiracy against the judiciary following the allegations of sexual harassment against Gogoi became public.

A bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, along with AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian cited that recovery of electronic evidence related to the case is unlikely after nearly two years have passed.

"Two years have passed and possibility of recovery of electronic evidence now is unlikely. Three-member committee headed by the CJI SA Bobde has already submitted a report. Suo motu case is closed and proceedings are disposed off. There is no requirement to keep the case going on," the Court ordered.

The bench further asserted that retd justice AK Patnaik panel was not able to avail electronic records like WhatsApp messages to probe into the conspiracy hence there is no requirement to proceed with the case.

The apex court while disposing the sou motu proceeding in the case, stated that the in-house proceedings has already completed the probe into the sexual harassment case levelled against Gogoi and a three member panel headed by Justice S A Bobde, now CJI, has given a clean-chit to him.

The SC also took heed of the letter of the Director of Intelligence Bureau that stated some conspiracy might have ensued against the former CJI Gogoi during his tenure that could have triggered the allegations. For instance, Gogoi's verdict on the preparation of the National Register for Citizens (NRC) in Assam could be a case in point.

The court cited that there are strong reasons to believe that some kind of conspiracy might have been undertaken against the then CJI Gogoi, the bench said, while quoting the report of Justice Patnaik.

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