Ravi Prakash filed a PIL challenging action of MMRDA in relation to a tender for Thane Borivali Tunnel Project awarded to Megha Engineering.
In response, Megha filed a Petition seeking dismissal of PIL and initiation of Contempt Proceedings against Ravi Prakash for making egregious allegations on the Judiciary. In his tweet after date of hearing was fixed, Ravi Prakash said, while considering his PIL, will the judiciary hold its ground of crumble to celebrity cadre and unholy money trails.
Megha also alleged that Ravi Prakash has suppressed the pending litigation between it and Ravi Prakash before National Company law Tribunal where the Court held that Ravi Prakash had siphoned off funds in TV 9. Ravi Prakash has also suppressed other Civil and Criminal Cases relating to the defamatory content published by Ravi Prakash and his media outlets. Megha also alleged that the Petition is filed with oblique motive as a counter blast to the pending cases where Megha has obtained several orders in its favour.
The Division Bench of the court comprising Chief Justice Mr. Alok Aradhe and Smt. Justice Bharati Dangre was hearing on Thursday. Before the senior counsel Mr Prashant Bhushan, appearing for Ravi Prakash, began his argument, the Solicitor General of India Mr. Tushar Mehta, appearing for Respondent MMRDA, and former Attorney General of India, Mr. Mukul Rohatgi, appearing Megha, raised strong objections on the maintainability of the PIL and questioned the locus of the petitioner. Both alleged that the petitioner has committed gross contempt of the court by his actions.
The Solicitor General also said that MMRDA has nothing to hide and are ready to make submissions on merits but given the nature of allegations made on the Judiciary by the Petitioner, contempt proceedings should be initiated and the PIL should be dismissed on this sole ground.
The court directed Ravi Prakash to file a response to the dismissal application first. The Court has also made it clear that it shall first take up the dismissal and contempt Application and not the main PIL filed by Ravi Prakash.