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2007 Supreme(AP) 755

Andhra Pradesh High Court
Judges : S.ANANDA REDDY
Edpuganti Bapanaiah - Appellant
Versus
K.S. Raju - Respondent
Decided On : 08/03/2007
Case No : Contempt Case No.915 of 2002

Advocates Appeared:For the Petitioner:G. Krishna Murthy, Advocate. For the Respondents:R1, S. Ravi, R2, M. Anil Kumar, R3, D.V. Sitarama Murthy, Advocates.

Headnote:

Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 - Section 10, 12, 58A - civil and criminal contempt - violating and disobeying the orders of the Company - Contempt petition is filed by the petitioner under Section 10 to 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, alleging that the respondents committed civil and criminal contempt by interfering in the course of administration of justice, by violating and disobeying the orders of the Company Law Board, Southern Region Bench at Chennai in C.P.35 and order in C.A. and also for breach of affidavits filed before the Company Law Board and this Court in Company Appeal, and to pass such other order or orders as this Court deem it fit and proper - 3rd respondent is a company, while the 1st respondent is the promoter director of the 3rd respondent company and the 2nd respondent is the President of the 3rd respondent company. It is stated that the 1st respondent and other directors, on behalf of the 3rd respondent company, issued a public advertisement, inviting deposits, proposing to return the deposits with attractive interests., and accordingly, received deposits from the public. In that process, the petitioner deposited Amount as it was informed that the same would multiply to double the amount within 45 months, and as such, the said amount was deposited in 8 fixed deposits Amount each for a period of 45 months - Deposit was made and is due for repayment on maturity on 28.04.2001. But, however, even before the said date of maturity, the 3rd respondent failed to pay to various other similar depositors, and therefore, filed an application under Sub-Section 9 of Sec.58-A of the Companies Act, 1956 before the Company Law Board, Southern Region Bench at Chennai for framing a scheme for repayment of the deposits in installments within a period of 48 months and the said petition was numbered as C.P - Company Law Board passed an order exercising its suo motu powers, granting time as claimed by the Company and its directors by approving the scheme – Held conduct of the 1st respondent-contemnor is also a deliberate disobedience of the orders of this Court, which is evident from his non- appearance, in response to the notice, issued in Form-I pursuant to the admission of the contempt case -respondent-contemnor neither choose to appear before this Court nor filed any application even seeking orders from this Court, dispensing with his presence, even though such an application was filed on behalf of respondents 2 and 3 who obtained an order, dispensing with their presence - Though matter underwent number of adjournments, even then, the 1st respondent-contemnor did not choose either to appear in person or seek any order from the Court, dispensing with his presence - 1st and 3rd respondents/contemnors are found guilty and liable to be convicted under Sec. 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act. Accordingly, the 1st respondent as well as the other directors of the 3rd respondent company are convicted and sentenced to suffer simple imprisonment for a period of six months, together with imposition of fine - 1st respondent as well as other directors of the 3rd respondent shall be detained in Civil Prison for the period of imprisonment as ordered above - Accordingly, the Contempt Case is allowed.

Judgment :-

This Contempt petition is filed by the petitioner under Section 10 to 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, alleging that the respondents committed civil and criminal contempt by interfering in the course of administration of justice, by violating and disobeying the orders of the Company Law Board, Southern Region Bench at Chennai in C.P.35 of 2000, dated 29.02.2000 and order in C.A.344/634-A/SRB/2001, dated 21.08.2001 and also for breach of affidavits filed before the Company Law Board and this Court in Company Appeal No. 7 of 2001, and to pass such other order or orders as this Court deem it fit and proper.

2. It is stated that 3rd respondent is a company, while the 1st respondent is the promoter director of the 3rd respondent company and the 2nd respondent is the President of the 3rd respondent company. It is stated that the 1st respondent and other directors, on behalf of the 3rd respondent company, issued a public advertisement, inviting deposits, proposing to return the deposits with attractive interests., and accordingly, received deposits from the public. In that process, the petitioner deposited Rs.40 lakh as it was informed that the same would multiply to double the amount within 45 months, and as such, the said amount was deposited in 8 fixed deposits of Rs.5 lakh each for a period of 45 months. The said deposit was made on 28.07.1997 and is due for repayment on maturity on 28.04.2001. But, however, even before the said date of maturity, the 3rd respondent failed to pay to various other similar depositors, and therefore, filed an application under Sub-Section 9 of Sec.58-A of the Companies Act, 1956 before the Company Law Board, Southern Region Bench at Chennai for framing a scheme for repayment of the deposits in installments within a period of 48 months and the said petition was numbered as C.P.35 of 2000. The Company Law Board passed an order on 29.02.2000, exercising its suo motu powers, granting time as claimed by the Company and its directors by approving the scheme.

3. During course of pendency of the petition before the Company Law Board, as per the directions, the directors, especially the promoter director, the 1st respondent herein, along with group companies, filed affidavits, giving undertaking to the Company Law Board that they will abide by the scheme and pay off the depositors as per the scheme, by implementing the order passed by the Company Law Board. On that assurance an order was passed on 29.02.2000.

4. But, however, contrary to the said understanding and assurances given by the promoter director and its group companies, appeal was filed by the Company as well as by the contempt petitioner as Appeal Nos.9 and 7 of 2001, against the order dated 29.02.2000 in C.P.35/2000.

5. It is stated that even during pendency of the above appeals, an affidavit was filed before this Court, by one Sri G. Ramdas, Senior Manager, on behalf of the respondent company, giving an undertaking that the respondent will pay one half of the 1st year's entitlement of the petitioner within a period of 30 days from the date of the order of the Court and the remaining half of the 1st year's entitlement on or before 20.04.2002. But, however, no amount was paid. Therefore, the petitioner has come up with the present contempt petition, seeking to punish the respondents for deliberate violation of the orders of the Company Law Board, as well as undertaking given by them.

6. It is further stated in the affidavit that while obtaining the scheme from the Company Law Board, series of affidavits were filed before the Company Law Board, assuring that the 1st respondent promoter director, along with group companies will comply and implement the order of the Company Law Board once the scheme s formulated. It is stated by the petitioner that by dubious methods adopted by the respondents in making false representations, obtained orders, which they did not intend to implement, would amounts to obstructing the administration of justi




























































































































































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