Supreme Court Sends HDFC CEO to Bombay HC in Lilavati Case
The Supreme Court has refused to intervene in a plea filed by HDFC Bank CEO and Managing Director Sashidhar Jagdishan, who had approached the apex court seeking to quash an FIR lodged by the Lilavati Kirtilal Mehta Medical Trust. Instead, the court directed him to pursue the matter before the Bombay High Court, which is already scheduled to hear the case on July 14.
SC Declines Interim Relief
A bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and R. Mahadevan noted that since the Bombay High Court is set to take up the matter shortly, it would not be appropriate for the Supreme Court to interfere at this stage. The bench acknowledged that several benches of the High Court had earlier recused themselves from the case, but observed that the hearing should now proceed without delay.
Allegations in the FIR
The FIR, registered at the Bandra Police Station, accuses Sashidhar Jagdishan of accepting a bribe of ₹2.05 crore to help the Chetan Mehta Group gain influence in the internal affairs of the Lilavati Trust. The charges include criminal breach of trust and cheating under Sections 406, 409, and 420 of the Indian Penal Code. Jagdishan’s legal team, led by senior counsel, argued that the FIR is baseless and arises out of a private dispute over financial dealings.
Legal Course Ahead
The Supreme Court has made it clear that Jagdishan must now seek any relief from the Bombay High Court. However, it left the door open for him to approach the apex court again if the High Court fails to hear the matter or if there is undue delay. The next hearing at the Bombay High Court is scheduled for July 14.
This case, involving a top executive of one of India’s largest private banks and a prominent medical trust, has drawn attention not just for the high-profile individuals involved, but also for the potential implications on governance and institutional transparency.
