Bombay High Court Sets Aside Order Restraining Sale Of Raymond's Former Chairman Emeritus Vijaypat Singhania's Autobiography

Vijaypat Singhania and his son Gautam, who is the current chairman of Raymond Group, is embroiled in a bitter battle years after the octogenarian transferred Rs 1000 crore worth of shares to the latter in the holding company in February 2015.

A division bench of Justices SJ Kathawalla and Abhay Ahuja observed that, the single judge that granted Raymond relief in a contempt petition, last week, was under an "erroneous impression" that the Thane court, in a separate proceeding, had injuncted erstwhile publisher Penguin from publishing the book.

"We are of the view that the learned Single Judge has passed the impugned order dated 4th November, 2021 under an erroneous impression that the District Court at Thane has passed the Order dated 22nd April, 2021 granting stay / interim order against the erstwhile publisher from publishing the book "Incomplete Life" was to continue until the pendency of the Appeal filed by the Respondent No.1 (Raymond),"

"We do not want to say anything more in view of the following Order," the bench added while granting parties liberty to re-approach the single judge.

Singhania's book released on Amazon, on November 1 and the single judge passed the restraining order against him and two others, on November 4.

On Wednesday, Pan Macmillan Publishing India Pvt. Ltd. approached the division contending that the court had injuncted Macmillan Publishers India when they had published the book.

Raymond filed a suit in the Thane court against Singhania and then publisher Penguin Random House. The suit sought a permanent injunction against Singhania from publishing his autobiography.

Raymond then appealed in the Thane Civil court after one of its application's were rejected and the court extended the interim stay by eight days.

Macmillan told the court that firstly the injuction was not against them as they were not party to the Thane court's proceedings. Secondly, once the parties had entered their appearance, the district court's order dated April 22, 2019, ceased to exist.

Moreover, Macmillan attempted to demonstrate how Raymond's contempt petition was taken up out of turn last week and restraining orders were passed.

After the division bench of the Bombay High Court set aside the order the matter was mentioned before the single judge bench and will be taken up for hearing tomorrow.

 Click Here To Read The Order