Common trial directed for related criminal and company-law proceedings to avoid conflicting findings and duplicate evidence.

Proceedings arising from the same facts and evidence were directed to be tried together to avoid conflicting findings and duplication of evidence. The Special Court was held competent to try the interlinked offences, and the Magistrate matter was required to be transferred to that court rather than proceeding separately. The transfer was ordered in the interest of avoiding multiplicity of proceedings and ensuring a common trial with the connected company-law case.

---

---

Issues: (i) Whether the criminal proceedings pending before the Magistrate should be transferred to the Special Court for being tried together with the related company-law case.

Analysis: The allegations in both proceedings arose from the same set of facts and evidence. Separate trials before different courts could result in conflicting decisions and duplication of evidence. The Special Court was competent to try the interlinked offences, and the proceedings before it could not be transferred in the opposite direction to the regular Magistrate. To avoid multiplicity of proceedings and in the interest of both parties, the Magistrate case was required to be brought before the Special Court for a common trial.

Conclusion: The proceedings were ordered to be transferred and assigned to the Special Court to be tried together with the connected matter.

---