Authority: High Court of Judicature at Bombay (Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction)

Order Date: 21 August 2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: United Phosphorus Limited (Applicant, original complainant) vs. Ramoji Rao and others (Respondents).
  • Application: Leave to Appeal (Private) No. 65 of 2019, challenging an order of acquittal.
  • Delay: Applicant filed the leave‑to‑appeal application 90 days after the deadline.
  • Counsel for Respondents highlighted a technical issue with vakalatnama filings and argued the delay was not properly explained.
  • Applicant’s counsel relied on paragraph 11 of the application, providing an explanation deemed sufficient by the court.
  • Counsel also cited Supreme Court judgment Celestium Financial v. A. Gnanasekaran (2025 SCC OnLine SC 1320), asserting its relevance to the complainant/victim under IPC §§ 499, 500, 501, 502 read with § 34.
  • The court, after considering the explanation, found sufficient cause to condone the delay.
  • Respondents’ counsel sought additional time to file a response.
  • The matter was stood over for further consideration on 04 September 2026.

Final Outcome

  • The High Court condoned the 90‑day delay.
  • The leave‑to‑appeal application was allowed.
  • Further hearing scheduled for 04 September 2026.

Topics: Criminal Appeal, Corporate Litigation