HC grants relief for Nusli Wadia and family in land deal case

In a temporary reprieve to Nusli Wadia and his family, the industrialist will not have to appear before the Kurar police station to record their statements in connection with a land deal case. Bombay High Court recently directed police officials not to proceed with the First Information Report (FIR) lodged last month.

A Division Bench of Justice Ranjit More and Justice Sarang Kotwal heard the writ petition filed by Nusli along with his wife Maureen and sons Ness and Jehangir. The Wadia family has challenged the FIR registered in Kurar police in pursuance to the directions of the Borivali Magistrate Court.

Borivali Court was moved by Wahid Khan, a Malad resident seeking action against the Wadia family for allegedly cheating and duping him. He claims to have bought a 4,606 sq ft land in the western suburbs at Rs 7.50 lakh in 1992. He also claims to have purchased the land vide tender invited by the FE Dinshaw trust.

According to Khan, he was not aware of the need to acquire the ‘Conveyance Deed’ in his name and continued to reside on the land where he has built up his house and a few shops. However, it was only in 2007 when he realised that the land he had purchased with his hard-earned money does not belong to him.

In their petition, the family has contended that the Magistrate has ‘erred’ in passing the orders to file a case and the same are illegal and bad in law as no reasons are attributed.

“Khan has not placed all facts before the court and has suppressed vital documents wherein he had unconditionally withdrawn all his allegations against us in his letter dated December 19, 2014,” the Wadia family has contended.

“He has played fraud and isn’t disclosing documents that goes to the root of the matter, namely the sale of the property and execution of the documents by him in favour of SO Corporation through one Jamal Jaadhwaani in respect of the property on which he is alleging that Wadia has cheated him by not executing the Conveyance,” the petition reads.

The family has accordingly sought quashing and setting aside the FIR.

The matter will further be heard on July 6.

A Division Bench of Justice Ranjit More and Justice Sarang Kotwal heard the writ petition filed by Nusli along with his wife Maureen and sons Ness and Jehangir