Go back to Bombay HC: SC to Praful

The Supreme Court asked Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel to approach the Bombay High Court in case he was aggrieved by the order of a trial court, which is hearing a complaint in the UTI scam case.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel to approach the Bombay High Court in case he was aggrieved by the order of a trial court, which is hearing a complaint in the UTI scam case.

HT Image

A bench headed by Justice RV Raveendran said: “No ground is made out for interference. All contentions that are urged by the petitioner can be urged before the high court as the high court has made it clear in the impugned interim order.”

Patel had moved the apex court after the Bombay High Court had entertained a public interest litigation (PIL) against him and directed the trial court to hear proceedings against Patel for his alleged involvement in the scam. The high court had, however, given the minister the liberty to approach the court in case he wanted to challenge the trial court’s final order.

The case pertains to UTI’s allegation that nine directors of Mumbai-based Auto Riders Finance Limited misappropriated the security amount given against a Rs 50-crore loan taken between 1993 and 1995 for setting up the company. Patel was a non-executive director and chairman of the company.

The PIL in the high court was filed by one M Furuquan, who had challenged the deletion of Patel’s name from the list of accused.

The trial court is yet to take a decision on UTI allegations.