Senior Journalist Writes To CJI Demanding Suspension Of Chidambaram’s ‘Senior Advocate’ Status Over Corruption Charges

Senior journalist working with The Pioneer, J Gopikrishnan, has written a complaint to the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi wherein he has prayed that the Senior Advocate designation granted to Congress leader P Chidambaram and his wife Nalini Chidambaram be suspended in view of the chargesheets filed against them for corruption, money laundering, reports Bar & Bench.

Gopikrishnan has alleged that there have been previous instances where P Chidambaram was able to take undue advantage of his designation as a Senior Advocate. He mentions how in the 2G spectrum case Chidambaram appeared for hearings in his senior gown and was granted interim protection from being arrested by Judge O P Saini on as many as seven occasions.

He called this a “clear misuse of holding Senior Advocate Designation.” Gopikrishnan argues that investigating agencies likes the CBI, ED, etc cannot function freely if the person being investigated holds the said designation.

The scribe also lambasted Nalini Chidambaram for misusing her Senior Advocate title to get interim protection in the Saradha chit fund case, stating, “She obtained interim protection of arrest from Madras High Court’s Bench headed by Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan who ordered Nalini Chidambaram to appear before a local Chennai Court to take bail.”

He added, “Madras High Court, which is widely known as domain of Chidambaram family passed this Order at a special sitting on a second Saturday. With the order from High Court, same day by late evening, Nalini Chidambaram was granted Interim Protection for fifteen days by a Chennai Egmore Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court by accepting Rs 10000 as sureties. Respected Chief Justice of India, such kind of benevolence from Courts expected for a common citizen? (sic)”

Gopkrishnan has asked for the Senior Advocate designations of the two to be suspended till legal proceedings against them have concluded, and also suggested that all Senior Advocates be made to file annual affidavits disclosing pending cases against them.