Madhu Pandit's Dirty Trick Blows Up in His Face
BY: CAITANYA DEVI DASI
Jul 13, INDIA (SUN) — Madhu Pandit dasa (director of Akshaya Patra) tried to pull a dirty trick in order to get an honest High Court judge to stop hearing his case. For information on this case go to www.ISKCON-BDA.org.
Appeals in the Karnataka High usually take years to be heard but by the grace of Lord Krsna, our appeal against the April 17, 2009 decision in favor of Madhu Pandit dasa [ISKCON (reg. Bangalore 1978)] was accepted after only 9-10 weeks by Justice K L Manjunath, who is reputed to be an honest and intelligent man. This is not good news for Madhu Pandit dasa, who depends on bribery and delaying tactics to stay afloat.
In a bid to get Justice K L Manjunath to recuse himself, Madhu Pandit dasa allegedly arranged for a couriered package to be sent to Justice K L Manjunath, pretending that the sender is coming from supporters of Jayapataka Swami, who is a party in the suit against Madhu Pandit dasa that Justice K L Manjunath is hearing.
The package contained a photograph of the judge at Hare Krsna Hill (HKH) and a letter stating that as shown by the photo, the judge had been at HKH where he had received gifts and was thus biased toward Madhu Pandit dasa and should recuse himself from the case.
The judge brought the whole matter out in court; lawyers for ISKCON (reg. Mumbai 1971) who represent Jayapataka Swami, claimed they had nothing to do with it.
It seems that the judge understood this very well because he himself brought up the fact that the photograph was taken by Madhu Pandit dasa’s men and is only in their possession, so Madhu Pandit dasa’s lawyers have to explain how it supposedly got to the opposing side.
It is obvious that Madhu Pandit dasa was trying to scandalize the judge so that he would not hear the case against him. The real ISKCON (reg. Mumbai 1971) wants Justice K L Manjunath to hear the case as he has a reputation for being one of the few honest judges in the High court.
This item appeared in many newspapers the, Deccan Herald news has reported the best, as the events mentioned in it are as it is.
Furore in HC over Letter to Judge - Deccan Herald
ISKCON Case - Deccan Herald
HC Judges get Mysterious Courier
Judge: I was asked not to hear ISKCON case
The following letter from the legal team for ISKCON (reg. Mumbai 1971) gives more details.
Dear Maharajas and Prabhus
Dandavats. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Today afternoon when our case was called for hearing the Hon'ble judge handed over a courier which he received 2-3 days ago to Mr. Chalapati, senior counsel of MPD. The courier contained a letter & the photograph of senior presiding Judge taken on Hare Krsna Hill in the year 2003.
The sender's name was shown as Jayapataka Swami shishya Samuha. HH Jayapataka Swami is 4th appellant in this RFA.
The letter was addressed to senior Judge with copies marked to Chief Justice of India, other judges of the Supreme Court, chief Justice of Karnataka, the other sitting judges and to the press. The letter stated that as seen in the photograph that the senior judge had visited the temple at Hare Krishna Hill, and received gifts therefore it is not proper for him to hear the RFA but still he is hearing the case etc. apparently scandalizing the senior Judge.
The judge first handed over the photo to Sri Chalapati, senior counsel appearing for MPD and then asked him to call for his instructing counsel, Mr. Maruti Prasad and in the open court he said that yes, he visited temple at the invitation of Maruti Prasad. Then in open court he asked Maruti Prasad that is this the way you should treat the judges whom you invite to visit the temple. It is well known in the High Court that Maruti Prasad has been inviting & taking many judges of the High Court to Hare Krishna Hill.
Mr. Holla, our senior counsel told the court that Appellant had not sent this letter although the sender's address on the courier is that of the Appellant. Mr. Holla wanted to speak more but Judge was not interested in hearing him. He turned to Mr. Chalapati and said the picture enclosed in the courier was in the custody of Maruti Prasad so how did it reach this courier? This Maruti Prasad must explain.
Then the Judge asked Maruti prasad that why send copies to all other judges and press. I will show it in open court to everyone. I am not afraid of anything as my heart and head is clean and I pass order on merits not based on which temple I visited. Why you invite judges to temple? To scandalize them? Then he asked Maruti Prasad what gift did temple give him? Mr. Chalapti said picture of the Deity. Judge said so let Maruti Prasad state it as he was the witness. Then Judge said Mr. Chalapti lawyers like you invite me for marriages of their sons, daughters etc. I attend in some temple, some hall then you will take my photograph and scandalize it? And this can happen to any other judge of this court. This is the way to invite devotees to religious places?
Mr. Chalapati informed the court that he and his client has full faith in this bench to do justice and our counsel, Mr. Holla also agreed with the statement of Mr. Chalapti. Then file affidavit to that effect judge told Mr. Chalapati and Mr. Holla. Both of them agreed to file affidavit to that effect.
Then judge recorded the proceedings and posted matter in the next week.
This judge has reputation of being honest and I am praying and request all of you to also pray the he does not release the matter. Very few judges here enjoy such good reputation and in case he releases our case then we don't know to which bench this will go and then whether that new bench will agree to hear it urgently etc. All that we have achieved with lot of hard work and spending lot of money on senior counsels will be wasted and we will have to start from scratch again.
Hare Krsna.
