HDFC Bank CEO Approaches Supreme Court Against Lilavati Trust's FIR After Recusal By Bombay HC Judges

Sashidhar Jagdishan, the CEO of the HDFC Bank, has approached the Supreme Court seeking to quash the FIR registered at the behest of Lilavati Kirtilal Mehta Medical Trust.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi mentioned the petition before a bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and K Vinod Chandran, seeking urgent listing tomorrow, saying that three Bombay High Court judges have recused from hearing the matter, causing a delay in listing.

"A frivolous FIR has been lodged against the MD and the Bank, by trustees of the Lilavati hospital, who are litigating against the other group of trustees. The bank has to recover money from them. In order to twist the arm, they have lodged an FIR through the Magistrate against the MD. We went to the Bombay High Court. Three benches of the Bombay High Court recused from hearing. Now the next date is given as July 14, that is also tentative. Everyday the bank is suffering," Rohatgi submitted.

The bench agreed to list the matter tomorrow.

In its FIR, the Trust has accused Jagdishan of accepting a bribe of Rs 2.05 crore from erstwhile Trustee Chetan Mehta, for giving him financial advice and helping him to retain control over the Trust's governance. It further accused Jagdishan of interfering in its internal affairs by misusing his position as the head of the HDFC Bank.

Initially, Jagdishan's plea was listed for hearing before a HC division bench of Justices Ajay Gadkari and Rajesh Patil on June 18. However, Justice Patil cited some personal difficulty and recused from hearing the matter.

Subsequently, Jagdishan's legal team led by senior counsel Amit Desai mentioned his plea before a bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Shyam Chandak. However, Justice Kotwal recused.

Later, the matter was listed before a division bench of Justices Mahesh Sonak and Jitendra Jain. Justice Jain, who disclosed that he has shares in the HDFC bank, recused after an objection was raised to him hearing.

As per an earlier administrative order of the High Court, cases related to the Lilavati Trust are not to be listed before six other judges of the Bombay High Court.