Kochi: Kerala High Court on Wednesday stayed for three months a bailable arrest warrant issued against Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy by Thrissur consumer dispute redressal forum in a case relating to alleged non-repayment of
money deposited by an investor.
Passing interim orders on a petition by Swamy challenging the Consumer forum`s December 23 last order, Justice Antony Dominic held that the "court sees no reason for the forum to issue the warrant".
The forum had issued the order against Swamy for failing to repay the fixed amount deposited in 1986 by a complainant in his company Express Malayalam Private Ltd, which used to publish the now defunct Malayalam daily "Express". Swamy was the Chairman of the company.
Forum President Padmini Suresh in her order had directed that Swamy should be arrested and produced before the court by April 4, 2012.
Complainant V Vasudevan from Thrissur had approached the consumer forum in 1994 complaining that Swamy had failed to return the Rs 5,000 deposited by him in the company in 1986 along with the promised 9 per cent interest.
In 1994, when he wanted to withdraw the amount, he could not do so following which he approached the forum.
The forum had issued an order in 1996 to pay the amount with interest. A show cause notice was also issued to which also there was no response following which the forum issued arrest warrant in December last.
PTI
