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2021 (4) TMI 1138 - HC - SEBIOffence under SEBI - complainant foisting vicarious liability upon the accused No.1 - criminal breach of trust of the complainant and sold its shares to their own Company - HELD THAT:- After applying a ratio laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Iridium India Telecom Ltd. [2010 (10) TMI 85 - SUPREME COURT] it is clear that, the accused No.1-Morgan is a necessary party for proper adjudication of the complaint. It is to be noted here that, the Letter of Pledge (Agreement) dated 7th March, 2000 is executed by the Authorized Signatory of the complaint on behalf of it, in favour of the accused No.1 company and therefore also impleadment of Morgan (A-No.1) is necessary for proper adjudication of the present complaint. The contention that, the accused No.1 is being foisted with vicarious liability, is the defence and a specious plea raised by the said accused. The accused No.1 will have to prove the said defence at the time of trial by leading cogent and plausible evidence in that behalf. The aforestated deliberation leads to draw an irresistible conclusion that, the accused No.1 company is a necessary and relevant party to the said complaint and it cannot be dropped from the present proceedings at its inception. The accused with dishonest intention have committed criminal breach of trust, deceived the complainant and have committed the act of cheating against it. In view thereof, the complainant succeeds. In view of the statement made by the complainant in the present proceedings that, the complainant hereinafter will not pursue application of Section 15-HA of the SEBI Act in the said complaint, Section 15-HA of SEBI Act is dropped from the Order dated 22nd March, 2017 passed below Exh-1 in CC No.56/SW/2011. The Order dated 22nd March, 2017 passed by the learned Magistrate is modified to that extent only. In view of the above, Writ Petition filed by the complainant are allowed. The present complaint filed in the month of February, 2011 by the complainant, is pending on the file of learned Metropolitan Magistrate, Railway Mobile Court, Andheri, Mumbai for last more than 10 years. In view thereof, learned Magistrate seized of the said complaint is directed to expedite hearing of the said complaint and to make an endeavour to dispose off the same within a period of one year from the date of receipt of present Order. It is needless to mention that, the period during which the smooth functioning of the concerned Court is paralyzed or affected due to the present pandemic situation, will be excluded from computation of the said period of one year.
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