Justice Soumitra Sen files reply to RS panel

Justice Sens written statement of defence to the charges was filed today, said advocate Subash Bhattacharjee,counsel of Justice Sen,refusing to disclose the contents.

Fifty-eight members of the Rajya Sabha had moved a motion in February 2009 to impeach Justice Sen on the basis of a letter written by Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,recommending Justice Sens removal.

Justice Sen,who was an advocate of the Calcutta High Court,was appointed a receiver by the High Court in April 1984 in a civil suit between Steel Authority of India Limited SAIL and Shipping Corporation of India Limited.

In 1993,the High Court directed Sen to deposit the money collected from the sale of certain goods in a separate bank account. Sen was elevated as a judge of the Calcutta High Court on December 3,2003,but the amount kept lying in his account.

On April 10,2006,while directing Justice Sen to pay the amount with interest,Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta observed: Receiver being a practising advocate had betrayed the trust of and confidence reposed in him by this court.