Supreme court directs former Ranbaxy promoters to appear on March 14

New Delhi: There seems to be no cessation to the Fortis brother controversies as the Supreme Court has recently directed the former Ranbaxy promoters, Malvinder Mohan Singh and Shivinder Mohan Singh to appear before it on March 14 in connection with the pleas relating to sale of controlling stakes of Fortis Healthcare by them to Malaysian IHH Healthcare Berhad.

The apex court said its earlier order asking to maintain status quo on the sale of controlling stakes in Fortis Healthcare to Malaysian IHH Healthcare Berhad would remain in force till the next date of hearing.

"The court would like to have the personal presence of respondent nos. 2 and 4 (Malvinder and Shivinder Singh) in SLP(C) No... along with their affidavits on the next date fixed that is March 14," said a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Navin Sinha and Sanjiv Khanna.

The apex court had earlier refused to pass any interim order on pleas relating to the sale of controlling stakes of Fortis Healthcare to Malaysian IHH Healthcare Berhad and had listed the matter for final hearing for today.

Also Read: Supreme Court refuses interim order on sale of Fortis shares to IHH; final hearing on February 26

The apex court was hearing the plea of Japanese firm Daiichi Sankyo which is seeking to recover Rs 3,500 crore, awarded to it by a Singapore tribunal in its case against Malvinder and Shivinder Singh.

The Japanese firm, which has filed the contempt plea against the Singh brothers in the apex court, has said that it was promised some shares of Fortis Healthcare by the Singh brothers.

The apex court, on December 14 last year, had ordered status quo with regard to the sale of controlling stakes of Fortis Healthcare. "Status quo with regard to sale of the controlling stake in Fortis Healthcare to Malaysian IHH Healthcare Berhad be maintained," the bench had said.

The top court had also issued notices to the Singh brothers asking them to explain as to why contempt proceedings be not initiated against them for allegedly violating its earlier order by pledging the shares.

The board of Fortis Healthcare had approved in July a proposal from IHH Healthcare to invest Rs 4,000 crore by way of preferential allotment for a 31.1 per cent stake.

The Malaysian IHH Healthcare Bhd became the controlling shareholder of Fortis Healthcare Ltd by acquiring a 31.1 per cent stake in the company.

Daiichi had bought Ranbaxy in 2008. Later, it had moved the Singapore arbitration tribunal accusing that the Singh brothers had concealed information that Ranbaxy was facing probe by the US Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Justice, while selling its shares.

Daiichi had to enter into a settlement agreement with the US Department of Justice, agreeing to pay USD 500 million penalty to resolve potential, civil and criminal liability.

The company had then sold its stake in Ranbaxy to Sun Pharmaceuticals for Rs 22,679 crore in 2015.