JUDGMENT :

PRATHIBA M. SINGH, J.

1. The Petitioner- Mohit Bansal, is a qualified Chartered Accountant (hereinafter “CA”), enrolled with the Respondent No. 1 – Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (hereinafter, “ICAI”) since 25th January 2008.

2. The ICAI issued a notice dated 25th June 2018, to show cause as to why action under Section 8 of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 (hereinafter, “Act”) should not be taken against the Petitioner in view of his conviction by the Delhi High Court under Sections 354 and 506-II of the Indian Penal Code 1860. The operative portion of the said notice reads as under:

“Please refer to your letter dated 27.01.2017 sending therewith a copy of the judgment dated 07.10.2013 of the Hon’ble Delhi High Court in the Cr.LA no. 828 of 2009 filed by you. Relying on the aforesaid judgment dated 07.10.2013, you have stated that the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi has acquitted you from the charge levelled under Section 376(2)(g) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

However it has been noticed that vide the same judgment, the Hon’ble Delhi High Court has convicted you under another Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, i.e., ‘Assault or criminal force to woman