[Udaipur Hotel Case] Rajasthan HC Stays Proceedings Against Arun Shourie And 4 Others, Calls For Record From CBI Court [Read Order]

[NOTE: On 15^th September, a special court at Jodhpur had asked the CBI to file cases against former Union minister Arun Shourie and the then disinvestment secretary Pradip Baijal over the sale of an ITDC hotel, allegedly at a loss of Rs 244 crore to the exchequer.]

Further, on Wednesday (21^st October) the Bench of Justice Vijay Bishnoi has also called for the records of the case from the special CBI court, while directing it not to proceed against the five petitioners (Jyotsana Suri, Ashish Guha, Arun Shourie, Kantilal Vikamsey and Pradip Baijal) until HC's further orders.

Significantly, the matter against Arun Shourie dates back to the year 2001, when he was the Union Minister for Disinvestment and when disinvestment of Laxmi Vilas Hotel, Udaipur took place.

It may be noted that earlier, the Rajasthan High Court had granted interim order/protection to Former Union Minister Arun Shourie from Arrest in this matter [on Wednesday (23^rd September)].

Now, yesterday i.e., on Wednesday (21^st October), the Court in its order noted,

"In furtherance of the order dated 22.09.2020 passed by this Court in these matters, it is ordered that the trial court shall not proceed against the petitioners pursuant to the impugned order till further orders." (emphasis supplied)

CBI Court's Order

The trial court had also summoned the petitioners through a warrant of arrest and had further ordered for attachment of the property i.e. Laxmi Vilas Hotel situated at Udaipur and appointed the District Collector, Udaipur as the receiver.