Raymond withdraws contempt plea against Vijaypat Singhania after flak from Bombay High Court

Raymond Limited withdrew the contempt petition filed against its erstwhile chairperson Vijaypat Singhania in relation to the case about Singhania's autobiography 'An Incomplete Life'.

. The move came after the High Court observed that Raymond had made misrepresentation before the court regarding a Sessions Court order in order to secure interim relief.

. Raymond had claimed in its petition that the book by Singhania infringed its right to privacy, was defamatory and discussed its business operations and other confidential information without the company’s consent besides infringing upon the company's registered trademark - ‘The complete man’.

. A Division Bench of the High Court had, on Wednesday, set aside an order of a single-judge who had granted relief to Raymond Limited by restraining the sale, circulation and distribution of the autobiography.

The Division Bench had observed that the single-judge had passed his order on an erroneous impression that the interim order of sessions court against the erstwhile publisher, Penguin staying the publication was to continue until the pendency of the appeal filed by Raymond.

While setting aside the single-judge order, the Division Bench had granted liberty to Raymond to approach the single judge to reconsider the matter on its merits.

. When the matter was listed today before single-judge Justice Madhav Jamdar, he was shown the order of Thane Sessions Court and on perusing the same, the judge orally remarked that he had indeed been misled about the operation of the Sessions Court order.

He even stated that Raymond should be held in contempt for misleading the court.

“It appears that the company (Raymond) is in contempt,” he said.

“They (Raymond lawyers) have made a complete blunder. If the Solicitors would have seen all orders on the website of Thane district courts their case would have been strong. Misrepresentation has been made. I have seen everything,” Justice Jamdar observed while adding that Raymond had a good case on merits.

. Justice Jamdar asked them to consider withdrawing the petition and passed over the matter for Raymond’s response.

After 45 minutes, the Court was informed by Raymond’s counsel that they will be withdrawing the petition and will move the Thane Sessions Court with appropriate proceedings under the Code of Civil Procedure.

In light of such statement, Justice Jamdar recorded in his order that the contempt petition by Raymond stands “dismissed as withdrawn” and that “they are at liberty to file appropriate petition”.

. The genesis of the dispute is the legal battle between Singhania, the former chairman of Raymond Group with his son Gautam Singhania and Raymond over the title of Singhania’s autobiography and its release.

. In 2018, Raymond filed a suit in Thane Court seeking permanent injunction against Penguin publishers (erstwhile publishers) and Singhania on the ground that the book infringes Raymond’s right to privacy and confidential information including violating registered trademark “The Complete Man” by giving the autobiography title “An Incomplete Man”.

. In March 2019, Sessions Court at Thane restrained Singhania from publishing the book till March 25, 2019 which was extended till April 8, 2019.

The restraining order was extended on April 22, 2019 till appearance of Singhania and erstwhile publishers.

. Senior Advocates Atul Rajadhyaksha and Tushar Cooper with Advocate Kartik Nayar briefed by Mehta & Padamsey appeared for Raymond Limited.

Advocates Siddhesh Bhole and Yakshay Chheda appeared for Pan Macmillan.

Advocate Vibhav Krishna appeared for Singhania.

Raymond withdraws contempt plea against Vijaypat Singhania after flak from Bombay High Court

Neha Joshi

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