No pressure on me, says SC judge

Justice SN Variava of the Supreme Court today denied that there was any pressure on him to change the special judge dealing with the fodder scam involving Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad.

The clarification was made in view of the intense reaction to his remarks made on March 15, when the case was taken up.

"There has been no such pressure. It is to be clarified that no one from the Patna High Court or on behalf of the high court had enquired of me. The person concerned has since clarified to me that the enquiry was just an academic inquiry," the judge said in a written statement read out in a crowded court room.

"I am satisfied that the explanation is correct and my original inference that there was an attempt to influence me was wrong. Hence, this clarification to clear up the misunderstanding, which has risen," he said.

"Because of the large-scale coverage by the media and the consequent controversy, it has become necessary for this court to clarify that it was not mentioned or implied by me that pressure had been brought on me to have the special judge changed," the statement explained.

The judge said the statement made by the court on March 15 was that "it had been indirectly enquired whether the high court could transfer the special judge trying the case and the reply had been the high court could do what it wants and we would do what we think necessary".

Following the judge's observation, there had been a furore in Parliament as the Opposition had charged Prasad of trying to interfere with the course of justice.