Justice A S Dave of the Gujarat High Court today declined to hear the case of Adani Enterprise (AEL) Managing Director Rajesh Adani, who was arrested by CBI for allegedly evading customs duty and later released on bail.
When the matter came up for hearing Justice Dave said, "Not before me." Following this development, the case would now be referred to another judge by the Gujarat High Court Chief Justice.
In his petition, Adani has prayed for quashing of the FIR against him and also questioned the method of his arrest terming it to be illegal.
He was arrested by CBI on February 27 for allegedly evading customs duty on petroleum products, causing a loss of Rs 1.07 crore to state exchequer.
Adani got bail on the very same day of his arrest, after his brother Vasant Adani filed a habeas corups petition before the Gujarat Hight Court. Based on Vasant Adani's petition Justice R M Doshit granted him bail and ordered his release.
CBI has registered a case against Adani, whose company is part if Rs 26,000-crore Adani Group, 10 Customs officials, Mumbai-based company Ganesh Benjoplast and Goa-based JAE Letavoson clearing firm in Goa.
The Anti-corruption branch of CBI's Goa unit claimed in its FIR that the ten Customs officials allegedly entered into a conspiracy with the two companies and undervalued import of two consignments of Naptha and one of furnace oil, thus causing the loss of Rs 1.07 crore.
The Mumbai-based firm had been charged with providing free warehousing for the three consignments, which they were not entitled to.
The case was registered on April 25, 2008, under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating) and for abuse of official position.