Additional Sessions Judge recuses from Rs 8,100 crore loan fraud case

Additional Sessions Judge recuses from Rs 8,100 crore loan fraud case against Sterling Biotech owners
ASJ Dharmendra Rana said he was shocked as he was approached by one among his classmates on behalf of the accused, while terming the incident as unfortunate.

The judge sent all the cases associated with Sterling Biotech to the District Judge, who is probably going to reassign the matter before another head. (File)
An Additional Sessions Judge hearing the Rs 8,100-crore loan fraud case against the owners of Gujarat-based Sterling Biotech group et al. recused himself from hearing the matter on Monday, saying he was approached by one among the parties within the case.

ASJ Dharmendra Rana said he was shocked as he was approached by one among his classmates on behalf of the accused, while terming the incident as unfortunate.

The judge sent all the cases associated with Sterling Biotech to the District head, who is probably going to reassign the matter before another judge.

“I don’t desire pursuing the matter. It’s very embarrassing and that i am recusing and posting the matter before District Judge. It’s very unfortunate that after hearing the complete matter I even have to recuse..,” the ASJ told Additional lawman S V Raju and ED’s special prosecutor Nitesh Rana, both appearing for the agency.

The head was scheduled to pass the order on an application filed by the Enforcement Directorate seeking to declare the company’s owners as fugitive economic offenders under a replacement law, ED counsel Zoheb Hossain said.

The District he is probably going to require up the matter later within the day.

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