Judgements

Mr. Chaitanya D. Mehta vs Securities And Exchange Board Of … on 20 January, 2004

Securities Appellate Tribunal
Mr. Chaitanya D. Mehta vs Securities And Exchange Board Of … on 20 January, 2004
Bench: B Samal, N Lakhanpal


ORDER

1. The Respondent SEBI has passed an order on October 10, 2003 requiring Indo Biotech Herbal Remedies Ltd., (IBHRL) and its directors including the Appellant Mr. Chaitanya D. Mehta to dissociate themselves from the securities market for a period of five years on the ground of their having failed to redress the investor grievances despite being directed by SEBI to do so. Being aggrieved by the said order the Appellant Mr. Chaitanya D. Mehta has filed the present appeal.

2. On the date of hearing the Appellant contended that he was only a professional director of IBHRL and that he had resigned even that position on July 22, 1996. He, therefore, contended that he had been taken by surprise by the impugned order which had been passed without any notice being served on him. The learned Counsel for the Respondent conceded this position and stated that the mistake had happened because the Respondent took some time in verifying the fact of the Appellant having resigned from the directorship of IBHRL.

3. Accordingly we direct the deletion of Appellant Mr.Chaitanya D. Mehta’s name from para 6.0 of the impugned order. The order shall not apply in any manner whatsoever to the Appellant Chaitanya D. Mehta.