Rahul Bajaj questions jurisdiction of CLB

Bajaj Auto Chairman Rahul Bajaj, engaged in a legal tussle with his younger brother Shishir over division of the group, today said the case was a family settlement issue and does not come under the jurisdiction of the Company Law Board.

Senior advocate and former Attorney General Ashok Desai, appearing for Rahul Bajaj submitted before CLB that the case comes under the Hindu Succession Act. "Let me clear that the Board has no jurisdiction over such matters," he contended.

Shishir, by filing a suit against Bajaj Sevashram "" the group's holding company, is trying to bring all other 11 companies under its ambit, Desai said.

"He wants to reach all 11 companies... He must have an understanding about the ambit of the petition," he added.

On being asked by CLB Chairman S Balasubramanian if Rahul Bajaj accepts Shishir as a member of Bajaj Sevashram, Desai said "yes".

On this, the CLB chairman said: "Let me make clear that if he (Shishir) establishes Bajaj Sevashram as a family company, he could seek relief in all group companies." Desai also pointed out that Shishir filed the case against Bajaj Sevashram when he was its chairman.