The CJ’s ooty papers

Lawyers allege Chief Justice P D Dinakaran bought a farm in Ooty in his mother-in-law's name. MiD DAY gets hold of the property papers

The CJ's ooty papers

Lawyers allege Chief Justice P D Dinakaran bought a farm in Ooty in his mother-in-law's name. MiD DAY gets hold of the property papers

Chief Justice of Karnatataka High Court P D Dinakaran's mother-in-law bought a plush farmhouse cheap in Ooty.

Records in possession of MiD DAY show that retired schoolteacher M G Paripoornam (80), the chief justice's mother-in-law, bought four acres and 45 cents, with a bungalow on it, on August 28, 2009.

The declared annual income of the Paripoornam is Rs 49,200.

Bangalore DDs
The property was bought with demand drafts issued by Bank of Baroda, M G Road, Bangalore, a source told MiD DAY.

The Supreme Court collegium had some time ago considered Dinakaran for elevation to the apex court. But the process for his elevation is now believed to be proceeding slowly.

It was also reported in the media a few days ago that the collegium headed by Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan has sought the services of the Survey of India's to verify allegations of land-grab against Dinakaran.

The Forum for Judicial Accountability, a Chennai-based organisation of lawyers, has listed the Ooty property among the many Dinakaran is said to have acquired in violation of government guidelines.

Market value higher
Paripoornam paid a little over Rs 33.75 lakh for a farm whose market value is said to be more than Rs 3 crore.
The forum's memorandum, demanding a CBI inquiry, says, "The fact that the Demand Drafts... were all obtained from a Bank in Bangalore, where Justice P.D. Dinakaran was and is the Chief Justice of Karnataka, cannot be dismissed as a mere coincidence and provides a lead to the source of funds and the real owner of the property."

The Forum for Judicial Accountability has submitted four memorandums, the last dated October 22.

The latest memorandum demands a CBI probe against Dinakaran, his removal as chief justice of Karnataka, and attachment of his property.