Former Bombay HC judge Abhay Thipsay joins Congress

Former judge of the Bombay and Allahabad high courts Justice Abhay Thipsay today said he has joined the Congress.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi welcomed Thipsay to the party at an event here this evening.

"I decided to join Congress and met the party president in Mumbai today. However, the formalities are not yet done," Thipsay told PTI.

Thipsay had retired in March last year as a judge of the Allahabad High Court. He was earlier a judge in the Bombay High Court.

"After my retirement, I was disturbed with the growing communalism and aggressive nationalism. I can't do anything alone and was seeking a platform," he said.

"Several other political parties had approached me in the last year but I was interested in the Congress," Thipsay said.

During his stint as a Bombay High Court Justice, Thipsay had heard several high profile cases, including actor Salman Khan's bail plea after he was convicted by a sessions court in a hit and run case.

Thipsay had faced flak for granting Salman bail on the same day the lower court convicted him.

In February, Thipsay raised doubts over the way many high-profile accused in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh alleged fake encounter case were discharged and witnesses turning hostile.