The Rajasthan High Court has stayed criminal proceedings against former SBI Chairman Pratip Chaudhuri, pending before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jaisalmer in connection with the Loan Scam Case.
Chaudhuri was arrested in November last year by the Jaisalmer Sadar Police from his house in Delhi. The arrest relates to seizure of two hotels of the Godawan Group by SBI during Chauhuri’s tenure over non-repayment of Rs. 24 Crore loan, and their subsequent loan to Alchemist ARC company, which he joined as Director after his retirement.
The trial court took cognizance against the petitioner and other co-accused persons for the offences under Sections 420, 409 read with Section 120-B IPC.
Justice Vijay Bishnoi, while disposing of the stay petition filed by Chaudhari, observed,
“When this Court is already seized of the matter and two other petitions filed by other co-accused persons are also pending before this Court, it would be appropriate that the trial court should not be allowed to proceed further in the matter. Hence, further proceedings in connection with the Final Report No.80/2016, arising out of FIR No.37/2015 of Police Station Sadar, District Jaisalmer, pending before the trial court are hereby stayed till final disposal of SB Criminal Misc. Petition No.269/2022.”
The counsel for the petitioner had argued that dispute between the parties is purely of civil nature and taking into consideration this fact, the Supreme Court in Civil Appeal No.16929/2017 has already…
