THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L. NARASIMHA REDDY Writ Petition No. 3973 of 2010 Date: 9.3.2010 BETWEEN: Mr. G.V.N.N.S.N. Murthy .... Petitioner. And The Commissioner of Police, Vijayawada, Krishna District and others. ... Respondents THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L. NARASIMHA REDDY Writ Petition No. 3973 of 2010 ORDER: The petitioner is an Advocate practising at Vijayawada. The High Court of Andhra Pradesh issued a notification for selection and appointment of District Judges. The petitioner claims to have appeared in that examination in the year 2008. According to him, another Advocate practising in the same Court, by name, Keshav Kumar introduced the petitioner to Mr. Murali Gangadhar, who is said to have informed the petitioner that mere securing marks in the written examination is not going to help him in getting selected and that amounts have to be spent. The petitioner states that Mr. Murali Gangadhar introduced him to one Chanumolu Rajiv and the latter in turn informed him that he has acquaintance with the High Court Judges and Supreme Court Advocates and that he can help him in getting selected. He is also said to have informed the petitioner that the Chief Justice of the High Court would visit his house on a particular date and necessary arrangements have to be made. The visit is said to have fructified on the informed date. Having been convinced about the influence of the said Rajiv, the petitioner is said to have paid Rs. 25.00 lakhs on 15.7.2008 to Mr. Murali Gangadhar and that on the same day, Mr. Gangadhar executed a promissory note and issued a cheque for the said amount. The petitioner states that the promises made to him were not implemented and when he demanded the refund of the amount, the persons named above did not refund it. Alleging a crime referable to Section 420 of I.P.C., he filed a complaint before the Machavaram Police Station, the 2nd respondent herein. F.I.R. was registered and the same is now being tried by the Court of the I Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Vijayawada as C.C. No. 170 of 2010. This writ petition is filed, making out a grievance that the respondents did not cause arrest of Accused No.2, i.e., Chanumolu Rajiv so far. A representation dated 26.1.2010 was made in this regard. On 23.2.2010, this Court passed an order directing the learned Government Pleader to obtain instructions on various developments that have taken place so far. It was also indicated that the feasibility of entrusting the case to C.B.I. would be considered. Today, it is represented that the respondents have since filed the charge sheet and that Accused No.2 is absconding. Heard Sri M. Rajasekhar Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for Home. This case discloses the extent to which the evil of corruption has spread. It is rather unfortunate that the petitioner has also contributed a lot to it. He was otherwise prepared to spend a fabulous sum to get selected as a District Judge. Even if a part of what is stated by the petitioner in his complaint is true, it is a matter of serious concern and great alarm. Misery percolates when such things are going on. Corruption, by itself, is an evil. The effects thereof are disastrous if it occurs in Judiciary. There is every likelihood of people losing confidence in the institution of judiciary itself apart from, the adjudication being not fair. It does not appear that the respondents have made sincere efforts to arrest the Accused No.2. The charge sheet is almost perfunctory and no serious effort was made to go deep into the issue. A matter of such serious nature was permitted to be investigated just by a Sub-Inspector. The Commissioner of Police, Vijayawada ought to have supervised the investigation. Even now, he can take up the matter and, if necessary, file an additional charge sheet after causing arrest of the Accused No.2 and eliciting necessary information. Hence, the writ petition is disposed of directing that the 1st respondent shall personally oversee further steps in the matter and ensure that the Accused No.2 is arrested, and if necessary, additional charge sheet is filed in the case. It is also left open to him to take steps for entrusting the matter to C.B.I., in case, he comes across any serious hurdles in the matter. There shall be no order as to costs. _______________________ L. NARASIMHA REDDY,J DATE: 9th March, 2010 pnb