The Supreme Court today stayed the trial proceedings in a city-based court against industrialist and media baron Kalanithi Maran in a forgery case.
The Bench, comprising Justices J M Panchal Gyan Sudha Misra, stayed the proceedings at the trial court in which Maran and his Sun TV were alleged to have raised wrong invoices to a city-based cable operator.
This has come as a relief to Maran, who has recently acquired controlling stakes in SpiceJet airlines.
Earlier, on March 12, the city court had issued summons to Maran and Sun TV over complains filed by cable operator Jak Communications under section 193 and 196 of the IPC for producing false evidence before broadcast tribunal TDSAT.
It was later challenged before the Delhi High Court, which on August 5, 2010, declined to stay the proceedings of the lower court.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Maran, submitted that the cable operator has dragged him in unnecessary litigation as he did not want to pay his dues to Sun TV.
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The dispute revolving around Rs 2.6 crore had reached the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal, which was later settled.
Rohtagi further informed the court that the dispute was settled and the cable operator was to pay Rs 1.22 crore and withdraw the criminal complaint.
"(But) after settling the issue, he (cable operator) lodged an FIR. His idea is very simple, just not to pay the balance amount due," said Rohatgi.