New Delhi’s political circles are buzzing with controversy following the transfer of Sambhal’s Chief Judicial Magistrate, Vibhanshu Sudhir. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera unleashed a scathing attack on the BJP during a press conference, alleging a blatant attempt to manipulate the judiciary.
Khera didn’t mince words, directly targeting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. ‘The CM shouldn’t import untested models from other states,’ he declared, referring to what he called a pattern of judge transfers to favor political agendas. In Sambhal, local lawyers are up in arms, protesting loudly against the move that they see as interference in judicial independence.
The timing of the transfer raises eyebrows. Just days earlier, on January 19, CJM Sudhir had ordered an FIR against a circle officer and SHO in connection with a shooting during the November 2024 violence in Sambhal. Police had vowed to challenge it in the Allahabad High Court, and soon after, Sudhir was reassigned to a junior post as Civil Judge in Sultanpur.
Khera drew chilling parallels to past incidents. He played a video of Babu Bajrangi, convicted in the Gujarat riots, claiming it exposed how judges were swapped under the then-chief minister to grant relief to the accused. ‘This is the same playbook now being run in UP,’ he charged.
He recounted the midnight transfer of Justice Murlidhar after orders against BJP leaders in the Delhi riots case, and similar maneuvers in Gujarat for figures like DG Vanzara and Maya Kodnani. ‘One model: replace the judge. Another: send them packing like Mota Bhai,’ Khera quipped sarcastically.
The Congress leader warned that such tactics threaten democracy’s foundation. ‘After God, people look to rulers for justice. If rulers obstruct it based on caste, religion, or language, how long can democracy survive?’ he asked. Congress stands firmly with Sambhal’s lawyers, he affirmed, as a new judge faces resistance too.
The Allahabad High Court recently shuffled 14 judicial officers, including Sudhir. Khera portrayed this as part of a broader strategy to install pliable judges, urging the legal fraternity to resist. With youth, women, students, workers, religious leaders, and the middle class all disillusioned, the BJP’s grip seems to be slipping, according to Khera.