New Delhi, Oct 19 (IANS) Law Minister M.Veerappa Moily Monday termed the death of Ashutosh Asthana, the prime accused and witness in a corruption case involving judges of the higher judiciary, in jail as “shocking” and said it would be probed.
“It is really shocking. We need to probe into it. It is a matter of concern,” Moily told NDTV news channel.

Asked whether the case would be closed with the death of the main accused, Moily said “the case cannot be closed” and it should be “seriously probed.”

“Because an entire nation will be watching, and they will have to probe the whole thing,” he added.

“The law will take its own course (in the case),” Moily said about the future of the case.

Asthana died at Dasna district jail in Ghaziabad Saturday in mysterious circumstances.

Earlier Monday, the Supreme Court directed that Asthana’s body should not be cremated, “if it has not been until now”, till further orders.

The names of several senior judicial officers, including judges of the Allahabad High Court, figured during investigations into the scam and in Asthana’s statement before the trial court in the case.

The case allegedly involves 26 members of judiciary, including an apex court judge, seven Allahabad High Court judges, six retired high court judges and 12 judges from subordinate judiciary in Uttar Pradesh.

The case relates to alleged misappropriation of Rs. 23 crore from the Provident Fund contributions of Class-IV employees with the “connivance” of officials and judges.

The apex court took personal interest in the case to contain the damage caused to the image of the judiciary. The case was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).