The Congress on Friday termed as 'regrettable' the issue of a Union minister allegedly trying to influence a Madras High Court judge in a pending criminal case, but said it was 'very difficult' to proceed further in the matter till the name was revealed by the judiciary.

"As long as there is no name, it is difficult for the prime minister to proceed further in this matter," party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed told PTI when asked what Congress and the government will do further in the matter.

"Nobody should influence any judicial officer in any legal matter. We consider the incident regrettable," Ahmed said, condemning the incident.

"But the judge has not named the minister. Only when any name comes up, the next course of action can be started," Ahmed said.

The issue also echoed in Parliament on Thursday with the Opposition demanding his dismissal after All India [ Images ] Anna dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supremo J Jayalalithaa [ Images ] named A Raja as the person involved, a charge he refuted.