Probe demanded into charge against kin of former Chief Justice of India

Trouble is brewing for former Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan, with allegations of amassing of property worth crores of rupees surfacing against his son-in-law and former Supreme Court judge V R Krishna Iyer today demanded a judicial probe into it.

In a statement in Kochi, Iyer urged Parliament and the Prime Minister to appoint a high-powered commission to inquire into the issue.

"The President of India must require politely Balakrishnan to resign", Justice Iyer said of Justice Balakrishnan who is the National Human Rights Commission Chairman.

A Malayalam television channel had aired a report stating that P V Sreenijan, son-in-law of Justice Balakrishnan, had within a span of four years purchased flats, landed properties in prime locations in various parts of Ernakulam and Thrissur districts, which are at present valued at over Rs 7 crore.

Sreenijan and Justice Balakrishnan declined to comment on the allegations.

Sreenijan, a lawyer by profession and a former vice president of Youth Cognress, is married to Justice Balakrishnan's daughter K G Sony and had unsuccessfully contested the 2006 assembly polls from the Njarackkal assembly constituency in Ernakulam.

As per the report, Sreenijan's affidavit to the Election Commission then had stated that he had a bank balance of Rs 25,000 and no landed property.

"The Press has disclosed now that the son-in-law and daughter have amassed wealth under suspicious circumstances indirectly due to dubious linkage with the Chief Justice. This is atrocious and must be inquired into", Iyer said.

There should be a Performance Commission into the conduct of judges where common people who have grievances of judicial corruption may have access and the commission should investigate into the charges without fear or favour, affection or ill will, he said.

Kerala PCC President Ramesh Chennithala today said he would look into the allegations.

T V Rajesh, state Secretary of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), youth wing of the CPI(M), has also demanded a probe into the allegations