SC stays proceedings against Chairman of Shakti Resorts

New Delhi, June 28 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notices to the CBI on a petition filed by D V Manohar Chairman of Shakti Resorts and Hotels Ltd challenging Andhra Pradesh High Court judgement dated March 6 allowing the criminal revision filed by CBI against the order of Special Judge discharging the petitioner in the case of cheating and under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

A vacation bench comprising Justices A R Lakshamanan and Altamas Kabir also stayed the operation of the impugned High Court judgement till further orders.

National Airport Authority (NAA) granted a thirty year lease in 1989 to the petitioner of land measuring 147950 square feet for constructing three/five star hotel in Hyderabad.

One G Satyanarayanan filed a complaint with the CBI alleging that the petitioner in collusion with senior officials of National Airport Authority have caused a loss of Rs 2.6 crore to NAA.

NAA had invited bids from interested parties for giving surplus land on lease for commercial purposes for constructing five star hotels, and in all 55 inquiries were received and following completion of formalities the land was handed over to the petitioner on June 21, 1989.

Additional land was also allotted to the petitioner and a rectified lease-deed was signed on June 20, 1990 for a total land of 1,90928.79 square feet.

Mr Satyanarayanan alleged that NAA would have got Rs 2.6 crore more, if the lease had been granted in his favour.

CBI registered criminal case on June 4, 1996 against the petitioner and five senior officials of NAA including the then Chairman NAA, Member (Finance) NAA, Additional Director (Establishment) NAA, Executive Director (Finance&Accounts) NAA, and Deputy Director, NAA, for offences under section 420, 120 B IPC R/W section 13 (1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Special Judge discharged the petitioner and officials from the case of NAA saying that lease was granted in accordance with law.

Mr Satyanarayanan filed criminal revision in the High Court against the discharge order but the same was dismissed.

Later CBI also filed a criminal revision challenging the discharge order of the Special Court. High Court allowed the same, meaning thereby, the trial in the case was to be resumed.

The petitioner has challenged the above said High Court order allowing CBI petition.

The present name of NAA is Airport Authority of India.

UNI AKS/SC AD RP VC1622