HC stays lower court's order in gutka case

The Bombay High Court (HC), today granted an interim stay on a lower court's order seeking to make gutka king J M Joshi, an accused in the case of alleged nexus with underworld.

Hearing Joshi's plea, a bench headed by justice SS Parkar referred the matter to a larger bench and in the meantime, granted stay on the lower court's order.

Designated judge AP Bhangale, on July 27, held that there was "prima facie" evidence to show that Joshi and another gutka king Rasiklal Dhariwal had links with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

The special court had also issued notices to Dhariwal and Joshi, asking them, why they should not be named as accused for allegedly helping Dawood in the gutka business.

Being aggrieved, Joshi filed a petition in the Bombay HC, urging for quashing the lower court's order and seeking an interim stay in the meantime.The Bombay HC had referred the similar petition filed by Dhariwal to a larger bench.

CBI had alleged before a special court that Joshi and Dhariwal, owners of Goa Gutka and Manikchand Gutka respectively, had allegedly helped Dawood Ibrahim in setting up gutka business in Pakistan.

According to CBI, the co-accused had disclosed during interrogation that they had sent gutka pouch making machines to Pakistan via Dubai. Both Joshi and Dhariwal, helped the don.

Then, Dhariwal and Joshi were in Dubai. So, the court issued warrants, asking them to appear in person. Later, they came to India and appeared before the CBI.