Summary:
Kochi, Feb 23 (PTI) The Kerala High Court on Wednesday quashed a non-bailable warrant issued in 2012 by a consumer forum for the arrest of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in a case of alleged non-payment of money deposited by an investor in the year 1986 with the Express (Malayalam)(P)Ltd of which he was the chairman.
Justice P V Kunhikrishnan also quashed all proceedings in connection with enforcement of the consumer forum"s order of April 24, 1996 holding Swamy liable to pay the investor"s money.
The high court"s order came on Swamy"s plea challenging enforcement of the consumer forum"s 1996 order and the warrant for his arrest.
In his plea, the BJP leader had contended that he was never heard by the forum and no notice was served upon in connection with the proceedings and therefore, its order cannot be enforced upon him.
He had also contended that while the forum"s order said a lawyer had represented him, there was no vakalath executed by him available with the forum according to the response he received under the Right to Information Act.
He had further said that the publication was wound up in 2003 on orders of the high court, much before the warrants were issued and therefore, the forum"s orders were unsustainable.