Was offered Rs 1.5 crore to ‘frame’ CJI Gogoi in sexual harassment case: advocate makes stunning claim

New Delhi: Making a stunning claim about the sexual harassment charges levelled against Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, a Supreme Court advocate, Utsav Bains, has alleged that he was approached by an unidentified man to organise a media conference to “frame” the CJI at the Press Club of India, and to represent the former Supreme Court staffer who has accused Gogoi. He added that he was offered up to Rs 1.5 crore for doing so.

The Print with reference to ANI reported that Bains alleged this was a conspiracy by some people who want the CJI to resign. He announced to file an affidavit narrating his experience in the apex court, and added that he would name those allegedly involved.

Before making the announcement, Bains made the startling admission in a Facebook post, where he said: “I was offered bribe to help frame CJI in the sexual harassment case by lawyering and organising a press conference against the CJI for the ex-SC staffer who has accused the CJI of sexual harassment just a few days back and also specifically asked to organise a press conference only at the Press Club of India.”

https://twitter.com/utsavbains/status/1119658597519171585

Bains post came hours after news of the staffer’s allegations of sexual harassment came out. He had added: “…(He) claimed to be her relative but on the other hand looked like a trained agent and he also couldn’t satisfactorily reply as to what was his relationship with the ex-SC staffer and then suddenly offered me 50 lacs as my legal fees if I agreed to lawyer and again he asked me specifically to organise a press conference at the PCI after I refused as I found the story facts fishy and also he couldn’t reply to any question about the many loopholes in the story he narrated. When I again refused he said 1.5 cr. I then asked him to leave my office.”

A 35-year-old woman, who worked as a junior court assistant in the Supreme Court, on Saturday alleged that the CJI had sexually harassed her at his residence last year. The charges were denied by CJI Gogoi suggesting that vested interests were threatening the independence of the judiciary.