SC asks Centre to give I-T details of kin of ex-CJI

A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to file the assessment orders of Income Tax returns after he submitted that all the kin of Justice Balakrishnan are not party to the case and they are private parties who have been filing their returns. 

“You file a chart indicating their assessment orders of Income Tax for our perusal,” the bench said while hearing a PIL, filed by NGO Common Cause, seeking CBI probe into alleged amassing of wealth by the kin of Justice Balakrishnan during his tenure as an apex court judge and Chairperson of the NHRC. 

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, had alleged that around 21 properties have been acquired in the names of son, daughter and brother of the former CJI. 

The court had on August 26, 2013, asked the government to respond to the PIL seeking initiation of removal of Justice Balakrishnan from the post of NHRC Chairman for alleged “misbehaviour” and purchase of ‘benami’ properties.