NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India

has told CBI to “take further action in accordance with law” on an Intelligence Bureau report red-flagging former

chief justice VK Tahilramani’s alleged

in Chennai, the decision to dissolve a special HC bench dealing with idol theft cases involving influential people and her alleged close links with a

minister.

The IB had submitted a five-page report after

following the CJI-led collegium on September 3 reiterating its decision to transfer her as chief justice of

HC. The collegium had decided on August 28 to transfer her to Meghalaya HC as CJ “for better administration of justice”. On September 2, Justice Tahilramani had requested the collegium to reconsider its decision. However, the collegium stuck to its decision to transfer her while recording that “it is not possible to accede to her request”. She tendered her resignation on September 6.

When the collegium’s decision to transfer her “from a bigger HC to one of the smallest HCs” became a subject of debate with a section of advocates claiming that it was intended to harass her, the SC came out with an unprecedented statement on September 12 which said, “Though it would not be in the interest of the institution to disclose the reasons for transfer, if found necessary, the collegium will have no hesitation in disclosing the same.”

When TOI sought her comments, Justice Tahilramani wrote back, saying, “Till now, I have not commented on any issue whatsoever and that is the stand I will continue to take. I will request you to allow me my privacy.”

According to CBI sources, the IB report made a detailed analysis of financial transactions made by Justice Tahilramani to arrange Rs 3.18 crore to purchase “two newly-built flats at Lorraine Tower, Semmancherry/Thiruvidanthai village on the outskirts of Chennai”. The report said, “Of this amount, Rs 1.62 crore was paid from

loans and remaining Rs 1.56 crore was paid through own funds in June-July, 2019.”

The IB listed six accounts — three jointly held by her with her husband, one jointly held with her mother, one her salary account and the other of her son’s — from which Rs 1.61 crore was credited to another bank account in

in Mumbai operated by Justice Tahilramani. An amount of Rs 18 lakh was paid to her account on July 8 from her joint account with her mother and the very next month, Rs 18 lakh was deposited back in the joint account through cheque, sources said.

The IB report also flagged the sudden dissolution of a special bench under Justice Mahadevan, which was constituted in July 2018 to decide idol theft cases in Tamil Nadu involving influential people, sources said.

The report said the Justice Mahadevan-headed bench, which had taken a tough stand against those involved in idol theft cases, was disbanded allegedly at the instance of a Tamil Nadu minister. It also said that the TN government, and especially the minister, was allegedly unhappy with the investigations being carried out by a team led by retired IGP Pon Manickavel who had taken action in several idol theft cases ignoring pressure from his bosses. Apart from the above, the report also gave instances of Justice Tahilramani allegedly favouring several advocates.