C S Karnan, a former judge of Calcutta High Court, who had been sentenced to six months imprisonment by the Supreme Court on May 9 on charges of contempt of court, was arrested by Bengal Police at Coimbatore on Tuesday. later, he was taken to Chennai, where he would be produced before a court for legal procedures like transit remand. “We got a tip off about his presence in a house on the out skirts of Coimbatore. Our team scouted the place and on confirmation about his presence we moved in and arrested him around 7 pm on Tuesday,” Rah Kanojia, ADGP, Bengal Police, told reporters.
Karnan, who has the dubious distinction of becoming the first serving High Court judge to be sentenced by the apex court on charges of contempt of court had retired from service on June 12. Following his sentence by the Supreme Court on May 9, Karnan was on the run. A team of police officers from Calcutta, led by an officer in the rank of additional director general of police was scanning Tamil Nadu for arresting the maverick Kannan who had the reputation of courting controversies throughout his career in Chennai and Calcutta.
It was an eight member Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court presided over by the Chief Justice of India which sentenced Karnan following irresponsible charges of corruption flung by the latter on some of his colleagues and seniors. The apex court had issued contempt charges against Karnan on Febriary 20. Karnan who flew down to Chennai on May 9 immediately after the apex court verdict vanished immediately after reaching the city.
The Calcutta Police team was on a mission to nab the controversial judge and had visisted all places in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh where the absconding judge could have hidden himself from public gaze.
Interestingly, Karnan, who had been asked by the apex court to stay away from judicial duties following the February 20 chargs, had “sentenced” the Chief Justice of India and the seven member Constitution Bench foir five years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs1,00,000 each under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989. All senior members of the judiciary had blamed Karnan for his contumacious conduct throughout his career in the Bench.
Before pronouncing its judgement sentencing Karnan, the apex court had deputed a team of medical doctors to examine the status of mental health of the judge.