The Delhi High Court Friday bade farewell to Justice Ajit Bharihoke who rejected the bail application to all the accused except former communications minister A. Raja in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
Acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri said on the occasion: “In less than one month it is the third time that we have assembled here to bid farewell to yet another colleague of ours on the bench.”
“This time it is Justice Bharihoke, a dignified and outstanding judge of this court,” said Justice Sikri.
Earlier, this month Chief Justice Dipak Misra was elevated to the Supreme Court,
After the special court dismissed the bail application of DMK MP Kanimozhi and other named in the 2G scam, they approached the high court.
Being seniormost to hear criminal cases, all the 2G accused’s bail application were listed before Justice Bharihoke, who after hearing arguments dismissed the bail saying the accused may influence witnesses as investigation is at initial stage.
Most of the high profile cases were listed before Justice Bharihoke like the hearing of Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh’s bail plea in the 2008 cash-for-vote scam.
Former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala`s plea was also pending before him.
The judicial journey started for Justice Bharihoke almost 37 years ago with his appointment to the Delhi Judicial Service on Dec 7, 1974.
Justice Sikri further said that though Justice Bharihoke had spent only two years and five months in the Delhi High Court, he would be leaving the indelible mark of his impeccable character, as a crusader of justice and a hardworking judge.
During his tenure as a special judge Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), he delt with several high profile cases, high profile cases, including one involving former prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and other political leaders.
“Some cases Justice Bharihoke dealt with are the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, St. Kitts, Lakhubhai Pathak, Urea Scam and Bofors Gun Scam,” said acting Chief Justice.
