Delhi High Court rejects plea against merger of Vistara and Air India

The Delhi High Court recently dismissed a plea challenging the merger of Tata SIA Airlines (Vistara) and Air India [Captain Deepak Kumar v Competition Commission of India and Ors]..In an order passed on July 5, Justice Sanjeev Narula observed that the petitioner Captain Deepak Kumar's plea contained unsubstantiated and reckless allegations not supported by evidence but driven by malice. “The claims are made without any regard for truth and appear to be designed to manipulate or mislead. This approach not only discredits the Petitioner’s credibility but also burdens the legal system unnecessarily. Therefore, in the Court’s view, given the absence of any substantiated claims and the apparent malicious intent behind the allegations, the present petition lacks merit,” the Court observed..Recently, a Division Bench of the High Court had rejected Kumar’s plea to ban Prime Minister Narendra Modi from contesting elections for taking false oath of allegiance to the Constitution of India.The Division Bench in that case had questioned Kumar’s mental fitness and had asked the local police official to keep a watch on him.In the present case, Kumar challenged the order of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) rejecting his plea against the merger of Vistara and Air India.He alleged bid rigging and cartelization in the merger of two airlines..After considering the case, Justice Narula rejected Kumar’s plea.Justice also agreed with the observations of the Division Bench on the aspect of Kumar’s mental condition..Advocate Manu Chaturvedi appeared for CCI.Advocate Anjana Gosain and Nippun Sharma represented Union of India.Air India Limited, was represented by the team from Svarniti Law Offices consisting of Amit Mishra, Mitakshara Goyal, Akhil Kulshrestha, Yashika Nagpal, Advocates, along with Azeem Samuel from Air India.[Read Order]