Ten Bombay High Court judges recuse from hearing HDFC Bank CEO’s plea in Lilavati Trust bribery case.
Case in News10 judges recuse in HDFC Bank case, raising concerns over judicial neutrality and alleged forum shopping. |
Case Overview
Case Name – HDFC Bank CEO Sashidhar Jagdishan v. Lilavati Kirtilal Mehta Medical Trust & Ors .
At least ten judges of the Bombay High Court have recused from hearing a petition filed by HDFC Bank CEO and MD Sashidhar Jagdishan seeking to quash an FIR lodged by the Lilavati Kirtilal Mehta Medical Trust . The FIR alleges that Jagdishan accepted ₹2.05 crore as a bribe to favour the Chetan Mehta Group in internal governance matters of the Trust . Recusals were mostly due to prior associations with the Trust or in one case, holding HDFC shares .
Key Aspects
The key aspects relating to the case are as under –
- FIR filed at Bandra Police Station based on magistrate’s direction under Section 175(3), BNSS .
- Judges including Justices Patil, Kotwal, Kulkarni, Chagla and others recused .
- Trust alleges criminal interference by Jagdishan to aid Chetan Mehta Group .
- Senior Advocate Amit Desai alleged “forum shopping” by the Trust .
Legal Insights
The legal insights relating to the case are as follows –
- IPC Sections 406, 409, 420 invoked for criminal breach of trust and cheating .
- Desai argues owning shares in HDFC Bank is not valid ground for recusal .
- Civil defamation suit of ₹1,000 crore and criminal defamation complaint also filed .
- Petition for CBI probe filed by the Trust pending before the court .
Court’s Verdict
No verdict has been delivered yet . The matter remains pending due to multiple recusals. The next hearing is likely after a suitable bench is formed .
Source – Supreme Court of India
Read also – FIR
