Subba Rao, C. J.

[1] This is an application for committing the respondents for contempt of Court and to punish them in accordance with law.

[2] Respondent 1, Vijaravelu Chetty, is the President of the Kuppam Panchayat Board. On 20-8-1953, he sent a communication to the Superintendent, X Branch, Anti-corruption Madras, making allegations of corruption against Sri p Gopalakrishna District Munsif-cum-Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Kuppam Chittoor District. The communication contained the following allegations:

I have received certain information which I think it my imperative duty to pass on to you for necessary action. This information is in respect of the rampant corruption existing in the District Munsif-cum-Sub-Divisional Magistrate's Court, Kuppam.

The Magistrate is Sri P. Gopalakrishnan of Avidi of East Godavary District. He was first appointed as Additional District Munsif of Chittoor in November 1949. Even then his honesty was suspected.

He was messing in the Golden Cafe, Chittoor. He never paid the hotel bills. But he compensated the hotel keeper by decreeing a suit in his favour.

There was a batch of nearly dozen suits between the ryots and the inamdars of Mundlapudi. The ryots were represented by Sri B. Munirathnam Naidu, Pleader, Tirupathi. This pleader took this judicial officer and his family to Tirumalai hills, fed him and presented him with a number of vessels. So the Munsif favoured the ryots by dismissing the suits.

A petition setting forth all these allegations was filed before the then District Judge Sri M. A. Azeem. Though the petition was dismissed as not pressed, P.G. was transferred to Sompeta.

P.G. now at Kuppam with the assistance of a Corrupt Bench clerk Sri G. Sreenivasulu Naidu has begun to receive bribes and sell justice.

In O.S. No. 2 of 1952, L. Rajagopalacnari, doctor, V. Kota paid Rs. 300/- on 6-3-1953.

In O.S. No. 10 of 1952, Kulla Reddy and Kuppa Reddi S/o A. Narayana Reddl of Krishnapuram paid Rs. 500/- on 6-4-1953.

In O.S. No. 58/52, K. Munisami Chetti, Merchant, Kuppam paid Rs. 200/- on 22-1-1953.

In o. S. No. 49 of 1952: Pattabhiramayya of Irisinamlpalli gave Rs. 500/- on 9-2-1053 through Thimmiah.

In O. s. No. 6/52, Magill Ramiah Chetty of Javuripalll gave Rs. 200/- on 21-7-1953.

In C. C. Nos. 5 and 6/52. P. Subrahmanyam of Nellipatta gave Rs. 500/- on 6-7-1953.

In C. C. Nos. 6 and 7 of 1953, Chengappa of Chintagunta gave Rs. 500/- In this same case accused Poolavaram Muniswami Chetty of Ramakuppam was denied justice because he refused to pay Rs. 200/- as demanded by the Bench Clerk.

On 22-6-1953, P.G. went to K.G.P. in Van No. MSP. 6913 owned by one Narayanappa of V. Kota. All the expenses were met by D Rangiah of Belupalli, accused in C. C. No. 39 of 1952.

On 20-7-1953, P.G. went to K.G.P. in the same van. This time the expenses were met by Kuppi Reddi and Kulla Reddi of Krishnapuram regarding O.S. No. 10 of 1952. P.G. was presented therewith fruits, vessels, toilets and silk cloth worth about Rs. 300/-. During this trip he was accompanied by his peon G. Varada Pillai.

P.G. gets Rs. 359/- P.M. But, after meeting all his expenses here he is managing to send his father and others Rs. 500/- per mensem. A reference to the local post office in respect of M. Os. sent and to the Bank of Chittoor Ltd., Kuppam as to the amounts and numbers of Demand drafts taken will reveal the correct position. Now he is adopting the method of sending currency by registered post.

P.G. misappropriates portions of rice brought into his Court in smuggling cases. Just because one process server was honest enough to com. plain, he was kept under suspension and later on fined for the same. Off the record sales are also effected out of such rice stocks.

I have given above all the information I have received, I feel there is a prima facie case for laying a trap. My informants have promised me and to others of your department all assistance in their power to lay out a successful trap.

[3] The Superintendent, of the X Branch forwarde