Fake Calls In CJI's Voice : 2 HC CJs Told About Elevation Of Lawyers In Impersonated Voice of CJI Gogoi

Two High Court judges have received fake calls in the impersonated voice of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi demanding elevation of some lawyers as judges, reported The Telegraph.

The judges who received the calls were Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and Justice L Narayana Swamy, Chief Justices of Telengana and Karnataka High Courts respectively.

Justice Swamy first received a call from a person, who is yet to be identified, claiming to be H K Juneja, personal private secretary to CJI Gogoi. He claimed that he was acting on behalf of the CJI who wanted the names of certain advocates in Karnataka High Court to be recommended for elevation as judges in the high court.

The caller telephoned Justice Swamy again after two days, introduced himself as Juneja and this time said CJI Gogoi wanted to speak to him on the recommendations.

The caller or someone else then imitated Justice Gogoi's voice and spoke to Justice Swamy, repeating the request for elevating the advocates.

The same process was repeated with Justice Radhakrishnan.

"So convincing was the impersonation that the two judges believed they were speaking to CJI Gogoi himself. A probe revealed the calls to the two judges originated from the Supreme Court's electronic private branch exchange (EPBX) system but had actually been made from a mobile phone", says the Telegraph report.

The Supreme Court registry has ordered a probe, and FIR has been lodged at Tilak Marg Police Station.

Chief Justice Gogoi has reportedly issued an advisory to chief justices of high courts and other judges not to entertain any calls either in his name or that of his office.