Ruled in favour of Prabhat Ramrichpal Jhunjhunwala (Applicant)
In Short
Two brothers got into a bitter family and company dispute, leading one brother to accuse the other of using a fake meeting notice. After lower courts kept the criminal case alive, the High Court stepped in to examine whether a criminal case should even run alongside a company dispute.
The Parties
Party A: Prabhat Ramrichpal Jhunjhunwala
Party B: Omprakash Ramchrichapal Jhunjhunwala and The State of Maharashtra
Advocates & Judges
For Party A: Learned Advocate Mr. C. K. Pendse, Learned Advocate Ms. Siddhi Bhosale, Learned Advocate Mr. Atharva Jagtap
For Party B: Learned Advocate Ms. Sangita Phad, Learned Advocate Mr. Rushikesh Kekane, Learned Advocate Adv. S. C. Kekane
Judge(s): Hon'ble Justice Ranjitsinha Raja Bhonsale
What the Case Was About
The Applicant and Respondent No. 2 are brothers who formed a company back in 1992 along with their father. Years later, during company tribunal proceedings, the Applicant submitted a copy of a board meeting notice. The brother claimed this notice was forged and that their father's signature was copied. The brother filed criminal complaints alleging forgery and cheating, which led lower courts to issue criminal summons against the Applicant, prompting him to approach the High Court.
Judgment Date
5 October 2026
The Outcome
The court ruled in favour of the Applicant, setting aside the lower court orders and bringing relief to the accused brother.
What the Court Looked At
- The Court looked at the long-standing family and company disputes pending between the brothers.
- It considered whether a criminal case for forgery was justified based on a handwriting expert's opinion of a copy rather than the original document.
- It examined the history of earlier police inquiries that had already concluded the matter was purely civil in nature.
What This Means For You
When family members fight over businesses or property, civil disputes should stay in civil forums like company tribunals rather than turning into sudden criminal police cases. Relying on handwriting opinions of photocopies without proper original records often creates weak criminal charges that waste years of court time. If you find your family business disputes suddenly turning into criminal police cases, understanding your rights early can save you from unnecessary stress. Setback Solutions can help you understand your options and coordinate next steps in a plain-language way.
You Still Have Options
Dealing with a sudden criminal case arising from a family or business dispute can feel overwhelming and stressful. You do not have to navigate complex court filings or confusing orders alone when facing a difficult situation. Setback Solutions can help you understand your options and coordinate the next step with clarity and peace of mind.