SC extends stay on criminal proceedings in Jal Mahal case

The bench asked the trial court in Jaipur to decide within three months,their revision petitions,challenging the cognizance taken on the case against them.

After submissions made by senior advocate Abhishekh Singhvi,Mahesh Agrawala and Sudeep Hora,who appeared for them,the bench said the trial court would decide their revision petition without being influenced by the order of the High Court.

They had approached the apex court after the Rajasthan High Court had declined to interfere with the order of the trial court.

While Kothari is the owner of Jal Mahal Resorts Private Limited,Zutshi was the RTDC Chairman in 2005 when the land lease deal was finalised. Kumar and Saini were Zutshi’s subordinates at that time.

The Jaipur court in September 2011 had also issued arrest warrants against them and the High Court had dismissed their anticipatory bail plea.

Since the criminal proceedings have been stayed,the apex court said the anticipatory bail plea has become infructous.

The government land adjoining Mansagar lake was handed over on lease for 99 years by Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) to Jal Mahal Resorts for developing tourist facilities around the lake.

The deal got mired in controversy when objections were raised as to how the government land could be leased out for 99 years instead of 30 years.

A Jaipur resident,Bhagwat Gaud had lodged a criminal complaint against the alleged conspiracy by the government officers and the businessman concerned.

The land initially belonged to the Jaipur Development Authority,Jaipur Municipal Corporation and the PWD but was transferred to the RTDC which handed it over to M/s Jal Mahal Resorts for developing tourist facilities around the lake.