Page 7 - Bombay High Court

MMRDA-Systra dispute: Payment held, contract cut, French Embassy steps in

The conflict began in early 2024 when MMRDA suspended payments to Systra for its consultancy work on Mumbai Metro projects and sent a termination notice in Jan 2025

French firm accuses MMRDA of corruption, seeks diplomatic intervention

The French company has alleged that MMRDA officials demanded benefits and intentionally delayed payments. Systra has raised these concerns with the Indian government and sought diplomatic intervention

$1.4 bn tax demand: Prima facie dissatisfied with VW's arguments, says HC

The Bombay High Court on Monday expressed "prime facie" dissatisfaction with Skoda Auto Volkswagen India's arguments against a USD 1.4 billion notice from the Customs department. The HC also commended a department officer for his dedicated efforts and thorough research prior to issuing the notice. "Prima facie, we are not satisfied with your (Skoda Auto Volkswagen India) argument. This is only prima facie," a division bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla said. "To entertain such a plea at the stage of show cause notice is something you have to convince us. This is troubling us whether we should entertain the plea at the stage of show cause notice," it added. The notice claimed the German group, led in the country by Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, allegedly provided misleading information to the department by misclassifying its imports of Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen cars as "individual parts" instead of "Completely Knocked Down" (CKD) units, thereby paying ...

SC rules alimony, maintenance valid for void marriages under Hindu law

The Supreme Court has ruled that permanent alimony and interim maintenance can be awarded under the Hindu Marriage Act, even if the marriage is declared void, based on case specifics

Bombay HC grants default bail to DHFL's Wadhawans in Yes Bank fraud case

The Bombay High Court granted default bail to DHFL promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan in the Yes Bank money laundering case, citing prolonged detention and the right to a speedy trial

Wadhwan brothers secure bail in 2020 YES Bank money laundering case

The Bombay High Court granted bail to DHFL promoters Dheeraj and Kapil Wadhwan in connection with the 2020 Yes Bank money laundering case, citing their long incarceration and the unlikelihood of the trial starting soon. A single bench of Justice Milind Jadhav on Wednesday granted bail to the brothers on a bond of Rs 1 lakh each. The bench said the Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL) promoters have been in custody for four years and nine months and there was no possibility of the trial commencing in the near future. Detaining an undertrial prisoner for such an extended period further violates his fundamental right to speedy trial flowing from Article 21 of the Constitution, HC said. In my opinion, further incarceration of the applicants (Wadhwans) is not required and they are entitled to bail without entering into the merits of the case at this stage, the court said. Considering the present status of the trial and the unlikelihood of it being concluded in the foreseeable future ..

Why plastic flowers not included in list of banned items: HC asks Centre

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday sought to know why plastic flowers were not included in the list of single-use plastic items banned by the Union government. A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharati Dangre asked if the Centre thought that plastic flowers could be recycled, or are biodegradable. The HC was hearing a petition filed by the Growers' Flower Council of India (GFCI) seeking a direction to the Centre to prohibit the use of plastic flowers. "Is the Union government sure that plastic flowers can be recycled, or that they are biodegradable? They are so flimsy. Can they be recycled?" the court asked, referring to the Centre's affidavit stating that these flowers were not in the list of banned items. The bench referred to a notifications issued by the Union government which stated that single-use plastics which cannot be recycled, or are not biodegradable, are banned. "Are you sure plastic flowers cannot be included in this list?" the bench asked. T

Bombay HC orders to stop salary of Solapur Zilla Parishad CEO; Here's why

Court directs Maharashtra government to withhold CEO's salary until teachers' dues are cleared, after non-compliance with court's order

Executors to move Bombay High Court for probate of Ratan Tata will

The executors of the will are in talks with former Chief Justice Of India (CJI) Sharad Bobde to arbitrate on the matter, said a source close to the development

Bombay HC grants bail to two men held for 'plot' to kill Salman Khan

The Bombay High Court on Friday granted bail to two men arrested last year in connection with an alleged conspiracy of the Bishnoi gang to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan near his farmhouse in Panvel. Justice N R Borkar granted the bail applications of Gaurav Bhatia alias Sandeep Bishnoi and Waspi Mehmud Khan. The detailed order was not available yet. Navi Mumbai Police had claimed last year that these two men, along with the other accused, had conducted a recce at Salman Khan's farmhouse at Panvel near Mumbai, the area around his house in Bandra, and some places he visited for film shooting. Subsequently, a case was registered against 18 members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to kill the Bollywood star. Two members of the Bishnoi gang had opened fire outside Khan's Bandra apartment earlier in April 2024. Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi who is in jail in Ahmedabad in a different case, his absconding brother Anmol, Sampat Nehra, Goldie Brar and Rohit .

Bombay HC to hear Volkswagen's plea against $1.4 bn tax notice on Feb 17

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said it would hear on February 17 a plea filed by Skoda Auto Volkswagen India challenging the tax demand of USD 1.4 billion by Indian customs authorities. The Volkswagen group, currently led in the country by Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, has been accused of deliberately misleading customs authorities through its mode of import of parts as individual units rather than as a component of a 'completely knocked down' (CKD) unit, which attracts higher import duty. The automobile company last month filed a petition in the HC, challenging a show-cause notice issued by the authorities in September 2024 under the Customs Act. On Wednesday, the company's counsels mentioned the plea before a division bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla, seeking urgent hearing. The high court agreed to hear the plea on February 17. The notice alleged that the company misclassified its imports of Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen cars as "individual parts" instea

Lodha brothers agree to solve trademark dispute through mediation

Bombay High Court appoints former Supreme Court judge R V Raveendran to mediate matter between real estate tycoons

Bombay HC asks Lodha brothers to mediate, resolve trademark dispute

Earlier this month, Macrotech Developers had filed the suit before the Bombay HC against HoABL over the use of the name 'Lodha,' seeking Rs 5,000 crore in damages

Try to amicably resolve dispute over Lodha trademark: HC to Lodha brothers

The Bombay High Court on Monday suggested Abhishek Lodha and his brother Abhinandan Lodha to try and amicably resolve the issue over the use of 'Lodha' trademark. The Abhishek Lodha-promoted Macrotech Developers Ltd earlier this month filed a suit in the HC against Abhinandan Lodha's real estate firm, House of Abhinandan Lodha, claiming the name 'Lodha' was their trademark and no one else could use it. The suit sought Rs 5,000 crore as damages from Abhinandan Lodha's company. In an interim application, Macrotech Developers sought a perpetual injunction against the defendants from infringing their trademark 'Lodha'. On Monday, a single bench of Justice Arif Doctor while hearing the application said since the dispute was primarily between two brothers, the possibility of an amicable resolution should be attempted. "Ultimately it appears to be a dispute between two brothers. The genesis appears to be between the two brothers. Has some effort been made to sit down and resolve it?" Jus

'Must follow law, not harass citizens': Bombay HC fines ED Rs 1 lakh

The Bombay High Court has fined the Enforcement Directorate Rs 1 lakh for baseless money-laundering probe against a realtor. It has also penalised the complainant for malafide intent

SC dismisses income tax petition against Vi, reinstates Rs 1,600 cr refund

Vi has already received refund in December, telco told exchanges

HC to hear Abhishek Lodha's plea to stop brother from using 'Lodha' name

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday said it would hear on January 27 the application filed by Abhishek Lodha- promoted Macrotech Developers Ltd seeking an injunction against his younger brother from using the trademark 'Lodha'. Last week, the company filed a suit against Abhinandan Lodha's real estate firm, House of Abhinandan Lodha, claiming that the name 'Lodha' was their trademark and no one else could use it. In an interim application, the company sought a perpetual injunction against the defendants from infringing its trademark "Lodha". The application came up for hearing on Tuesday morning before a single bench of Justice Manish Pitale. The court, however, noted that it could not hear the plea, as the suit had sought damages of Rs 5,000 crore. As per court assignment, any suit that sought damages of more than Rs 100 crore would have to be heard by the single bench of Justice Arif Doctor. The company's advocate, Hiren Kamod, in the afternoon mentioned the application before the

Billionaire Lodha brothers clash over brand rights, Bombay HC to hear case

The HC is scheduled to hear the matter on Tuesday, according to court filings

Form panel to consider phasing out petrol, diesel vehicles: HC to Maha govt

The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to form a panel to explore the feasibility of phasing out diesel and petrol vehicles, saying automobiles choking Mumbai's roads are a major contributor to the city's worsening air quality. A division bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Girish Kulkarni directed the government to form a committee of experts and civil administrators within a fortnight to consider whether it will be feasible to phase out diesel- and petrol-based vehicles from Mumbai's roads and permit only those running on CNG or electricity. The order was passed on a public interest litigation that the HC had taken up on its own in 2023 over the city's poor Air Quality Index (AQI). The court had heard the matter on January 9. In its detailed order made available on Wednesday, the bench said vehicular pollution was a major contributor to worsening air quality in the city. The roads in Mumbai Metropolitan Region are choked with vehicles and dens

Badlapur sexual assault victims very young, trial must be fast-tracked: HC

The Bombay High Court on Monday said the trial in the last year's Badlapur school sexual assault case should be fast-tracked and conducted expeditiously as the victim girls are very young. In August last year, a male attendant sexually assaulted the two girls - aged four and five - inside the toilet of their school located in Badlapur area of Maharashtra's Thane district. He was arrested and later killed in a shootout with police when he was being taken from jail for questioning. The Special Investigation (SIT), set up by the Maharashtra government to conduct a probe into the case, has filed its chargesheet. The chargesheet was filed against the attendant, the school's headmaster and two members of its management for "failing to report" the sexual assault, as required under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The high court took suo motu (on its own) cognisance of the incident after it came to light that the local Badlapur police had not take