Indian Mike Ross? Calcutta HC calls for CID probe

|The DenI

The Calcutta High Court directed the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the matter after discovering that a lawyer through whom a writ petition was filed did not exist at the address given on record.

Justice Md Nizamuddin also directed the State Bar Council Chairman to file a report on whether the advocate on record, Avijit Pal, was a member of the State Bar.

"The Chairman of the West Bengal Bar Council shall file a report as to whether any Advocate named Avijit Pal has enrolled his name with the West Bengal Bar Council," the order stated.

The Bench also asked the Registry to ensure that the registration number of advocates was included in the pleadings when petitions were filed.

The judge in this case was informed that the advocate for the petitioner did not appear to exist at his address. Furthermore, no one in the neighborhood knew or had heard of Pal.

In another case filed through Pal, the petitioner complained that she never filed such a case nor authorized anyone to file one on her behalf. Based on this complaint, the High Court referred the case to the DIG (CID) in August 2022 to investigate and file a report. The case was adjourned until September 12 for further hearing.

Advocates A Ray, TM Siddiqui, D Ghosh, and V Kothari represented the state.