Tuesday, February 8 2005 20:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: In a relief to NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul and his son, the Delhi High Court today (Feb 8, 2005) exempted their personal appearance before a trial court till March 23 in a criminal complaint case filed by his brother-in-law M D Jindal.

"No coercive course of action will be taken against Paul, his son Angad and Colin D Steele, Director of Caparo India Ltd, UK," Justice Manju Goel ordered on an application filed by Lord Paul and others seeking quashing of the summons issued by the Metropolitan Magistrate on November 4.

However, the court said those who are Indian citizens and staying in the country have to appear before the trial court on February 16.

The court said detailed arguments were necessary for final adjudication of the application filed by the Directors of Caparo Group of Companies and fixed the next date of hearing for March 23.

Senior advocate Arun Jaitley and Rajiv Nayar, appearing for the Pauls contended that criminal complaint against the NRI industrialists was filed by concealing facts.

"They concealed the favourable findings of Company Law Board against us while filing criminal complaint," Jaitley said adding that the rivals want to malign the name of Lord Paul.

Senior advocate A M Sighvi and Siddharth Luthra appearing for Jindal opposed the application saying that he was not a party before the CLB and the NRI industrialists were approaching this court two months after the summons were issued.

"They can approach the court concerned which issued the summons," Sighvi said.