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Judges are like god to us, say Hindujas

The three Europe-based Hinduja brothers, accused in the Rs 64 crore [Rs 640 million] Bofors payoffs case, turned up on Friday before the court pending disposal of their plea for exemption from personal appearance, saying they had full faith in the Indian judiciary.

"For us God and the Judge are the same," Gopichand P Hinduja remarked while requesting the court for exemption from personal appearance.

"Are you sure?" Special Judge R L Chugh asked him. "Generally we find that the big and the mighty feel that they are above the law...

"If somebody big is involved, he thinks he should be treated differently. He thinks his trial should be conducted at some posh place because he does not feel like coming to a place like Tis Hazari."

When Srichand P Hinduja submitted, "We are simple people," Chugh remarked that "the [large] media presence in the court" indicated otherwise.

The brothers -- Srichand, Gopichand and Prakash, on whose absence on the last date the court had expressed displeasure, were present during the proceedings on Friday.

When the judge told them to have faith in the judiciary, Srichand Hinduja said, "Had we not been confident about the judiciary, we would not have come here."

"I do not want to comment on how and why you have come. Perhaps these people know it better," Chugh responded, alluding to the media crowd.

Regarding their exemption application, the court said it would hear the plea on May 4 after the high court decides on the brothers' plea for leaving the country.

Pressing for the exemption, G P Hinduja said, "We don't mind coming to the court as and when needed, provided the trial is on. But coming here for nothing is not helpful to anyone."

PTI

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