Bombay High Court Permits Amendment of Plaint in Ambani-SBI Litigation and Sets Timeline for Further Affidavits - 2026-01-14

Bombay High Court Streamlines Proceedings in Ambani-SBI Legal Dispute

In a purely procedural development, the High Court of Bombay, presided over by Justice Milind N. Jadhav, has formally granted leave to amend the plaint in the ongoing litigation between Anil D. Ambani and the State Bank of India (SBI). The court’s order paves the way for a more structured exchange of submissions as the case moves toward a substantive hearing in February 2026.

Procedural Hurdles and Court Intervention

The matter, which encompasses several interim applications, took a step toward technical refinement when the counsel for the Plaintiff, Mr. Joshi, moved to substitute specific exhibits (Exhibit ‘BB’ and Exhibit ‘CC’). The request was necessitated by the discovery that incorrect documents had been inadvertently filed with the original plaint.

Acknowledging the need for accuracy in judicial records, Justice Jadhav granted the amendment, permitting the Plaintiff to substitute the documents forthwith. Notably, the Court dispensed with the requirement for re-verification of the amended records, streamlining the process for the parties involved.

Establishing the Judicial Roadmap

The Court focused on stabilizing the procedural roadmap for the upcoming arguments. To ensure that both the State Bank of India and the auditors involved are adequately prepared, the Court issued specific directives regarding the filing of evidence and responses:

• Affidavit-in-Reply : Both the Bank and the auditors have been granted a two-week window to file their respective Affidavits-in-Reply.
• Rejoinder : The Plaintiff may file a rejoinder within one week following the receipt of these replies.
• Service Deadline : A strict cut-off for the Service of the Rejoinder has been set for February 3, 2026, intended to provide the Bank with sufficient time to review the material before the subsequent hearing.

Key Observations

The judgment focused on maintaining the integrity of the filing while ensuring procedural fairness. Justice Jadhav emphasized the necessity for clear documentation:

> "Leave to amend the Suit Plaint to that extent is granted. Amendment is permitted to be carried out forthwith."

> "Department shall permit the Advocate for Plaintiff to carry out the amendment."

> "Immediately after the amendment is carried out, the amended Exhibit ‘BB’ and Exhibit ‘CC’ shall be replaced by the Advocate for Plaintiff in the record of the Defendants."

Moving Toward Resolution

The High Court has set the next landmark for this litigation for February 4, 2026. By setting clear parameters for document submission and deadline adherence, Justice Jadhav has signaled a desire to move past preliminary procedural disputes and toward a comprehensive hearing on the interim applications.

For legal professionals, this order serves as a reminder of the Court’s willingness to allow necessary corrections in pleadings, provided they are addressed promptly and transparently to avoid trial disruption. The precise scheduling of the rejoinder deadline highlights the Court’s commitment to ensuring that neither party faces an "ambush" at the subsequent hearing in early February.