SC restrains Dalmia from travelling abroad without permission

The Supreme Court today restrained Golden Tobacco Company chairman Sanjay Dalmia from travelling abroad without the permission of the Bombay High Court as he has allegedly duped Indiabulls Financial Services (IBFSL) of around Rs 641 crore.

A Bench headed by Justice Dalveer Bhandari restrained the Maharashtra government from taking coercive measures against Dalmia for six weeks and transferred the petition pending before the Delhi High Court to the Bombay High Court. It also directed the parties to appear before the Bombay High Court on November 3.

"We direct the respondent (Dalmia) to join investigation and fully cooperate with the proceedings," it said.

The apex court directed Dalmia to deposit his passport with the Registrar of the Bombay High Court and should travel abroad only after obtaining permission from the Bombay High Court.

However, the Bench said that if Dalmia wanted to file any proceedings "emanating from the FIR, his claim would be instituted only in Mumbai. The Bombay High Court should decide the matter on its own merit without being influenced by the Delhi High Court".

The order came on petitions filed by both the Maharashtra government and IBFSL seeking transfer of a petition filed by Dalmia from the Delhi High Court to Bombay High Court.

Dalmia had moved the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of a FIR filed in Mumbai after IBFSL vice-president (legal) filed a complaint against him with the Economic Offences Wing, Mumbai.