SC closes sexual harassment proceedings against former CJI Ranjan Gogoi, hints at conspiracy behind charges

The Supreme Court on Thursday closed the suo motu proceedings against former CJI Ranjan Gogoi in the 2019 sexual harassment case against him saying a possible conspiracy may have been hatched against the former judge, which led to the allegations.

The sexual harassment case proceedings against former CJI Ranjan Gogoi was listed for hearing in the Supreme Court after almost two years and Justice Kaul said that the possibility of retrieving electronic records is very less.

During the hearing on Thursday, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul observed, “There was some reason to believe that some judgments had led to a conspiracy being hatched against the then CJI.”

Speaking at the India Today Conclave East recently, retd Justice Gogoi rejected criticism over the sexual harassment case and said a judge can never be cowed down by such allegations.

“Report by the former judge enquires that whether the decision by then CJI on the judicial side had triggered off conspiracy against him. Two years have passed and the possibility of recovery of electronic evidence now is unlikely,” said Justice Kaul.

According to Bar & Bench, Justice Kaul finally said, “A 3-member committee headed by the CJI SA Bobde has already submitted a report. Suo motu case is closed and proceedings are disposed of. There is no requirement to keep the case going on.”

During the hearing, Justice Kaul further referred to the letter of Director of Intelligence Bureau that some conspiracy might have ensued due to the tough decisions like preparation of NRC in Assam. “There are strong reasons to believe that some kind of conspiracy might have been undertaken against CJI,” said Justice Kaul.

On April 25, 2019, the Supreme Court had appointed Justice Patnaik to hold an inquiry into the sensational allegations of a lawyer about "larger conspiracy" to frame Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and fixing of benches in the court.