Delhi High Court Stays Cheating Case Against Gautam Gambhir, Grants Interim Relief

(Judicial Quest News Network)

In a significant development, the Delhi High Court on Monday stayed a Sessions Court’s decision to reinstate a cheating case against former cricketer and current Indian team coach Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir had moved the High Court challenging the Sessions Court’s ruling that had set aside a trial court’s order, which had earlier discharged him from the case.

The case stems from allegations related to a housing project in 2011, promoted by Rudra Buildwell Reality, Aaj Infra City, and Um Architecture and Contractors, in which Gambhir was an additional director of Rudra Buildwell and a brand ambassador for the project. Homebuyers, who claimed to have faced no progress on the project and later learned the land was embroiled in litigation, filed a cheating complaint against Gambhir and others involved.

In 2020, a trial court found a prima facie case against three individuals and two companies but cleared Gambhir of the charges. However, this decision was challenged by the complainants in a revision petition before the Sessions Court, which, on October 29, overturned the trial court’s order, asserting that the trial court had failed to adequately consider the matter.

The Sessions Court directed that the case be reconsidered, suggesting that the allegations may involve money laundering, and instructed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to investigate further. In response, Gambhir’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, argued before the High Court that as an additional director of Rudra Buildwell, he had no involvement in the alleged fraudulent activities. Rohatgi further contended that the ongoing legal proceedings were causing undue harassment to the cricketer.

The Delhi High Court, after hearing the arguments, granted interim relief, staying the Sessions Court’s order and assuring that a detailed order would be passed later. The matter remains under judicial scrutiny, with the ED instructed to examine the case from the perspective of money laundering.

The case has garnered significant attention due to Gambhir’s high-profile status in Indian cricket, with his legal team stressing that the ongoing legal challenges were a form of harassment rather than legitimate legal action.