Justice Nirmal Yadav Acquitted in Landmark 2008 Corruption Case

A special CBI court cited lack of evidence in its verdict, concluding a 17-year-long trial involving the first corruption case against a sitting judge in India.

Justice Nirmal Yadav and three others were acquitted by a special CBI court in Chandigarh in the 2008 'cash-at-judge’s-door' case.
The case centered on ₹15 lakh in cash, allegedly intended as a bribe for Justice Yadav, which was mistakenly delivered to another judge's residence.
The trial spanned 17 years, involving 69 prosecution witnesses, 13 of whom turned hostile, and significant procedural delays.
The court ruled that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to substantiate the bribery allegations against Justice Yadav and the other accused.
This case, the first corruption prosecution of a sitting judge in India, highlighted systemic delays in legal proceedings and had a lasting impact on Justice Yadav's career trajectory.