**Chetan Mehta Seeks Dismissal of FIR Over Alleged Fund Misappropriation**
Chetan Mehta, a former trustee of Lilavati Hospital, has approached the Bombay High Court to request the dismissal of a First Information Report (FIR) filed against him by the Bandra Police in Mumbai. The FIR pertains to allegations of misappropriating funds totaling Rs 1,243 crore. This legal action follows a forensic audit conducted by Prashant Mehta, the current trustee of the Lilavati Kirtilal Mehta Medical Trust, which reportedly uncovered numerous financial irregularities.
Initially, Chetan Mehta sought recourse through the Magistrate Court after the Bandra Police did not file an FIR. The Magistrate subsequently ordered the police to proceed with the filing. Chetan Mehta, a Belgian citizen and holder of an Overseas Citizen of India card, served as a trustee of the Lilavati Kirtilal Mehta Medical Trust from 2007 until December 2023, when he was removed by the Charity Commissioner’s office. The investigation into these allegations has since been handed over to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police.
In his petition, filed by advocates Lakshmi Raman and Dhiren Shah, Mehta contends that the Magistrate’s order was issued hastily—within just ten days—without waiting for a police report to determine if an investigation was necessary. The petition also includes counter-allegations against Prashant Mehta and his family, asserting that during Chetan Mehta’s tenure, Lilavati Hospital transformed into a premier healthcare institution. It claims that the hospital’s fixed deposits increased from Rs 200 crore to Rs 500 crore, alongside significant charitable contributions.
Lilavati Hospital is operated by a family trust founded by the late Kirtilal Mehta in 1978. Several of his children, including Vijay Mehta, Prabodh Mehta, Kishore Mehta, Rashmi Mehta, and Rekha Sheth, played pivotal roles in the hospital’s development. Currently, Chetan Mehta and Prashant Mehta, the sons of Prabodh and Kishore Mehta respectively, are embroiled in a legal and familial dispute regarding the trust’s management.
Chetan Mehta’s petition claims that the allegations have inflicted undue hardship on him and tarnished his reputation, impacting his professional standing. He argues that the hospital remains financially robust and has consistently generated surplus income. The petition states, “The continuation of the impugned proceedings, in light of clear audited financials showing consistent surplus and absence of loss, constitutes a gross abuse of the legal process and would cause irreparable harm to the petitioner.”
Additionally, the petition accuses the current trustee of colluding with former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh to file multiple FIRs based on similar allegations. In addition to the case under investigation by the EOW, four other FIRs have reportedly been lodged against Mehta, all of which he is contesting in court.
The plea was presented before a division bench led by Justice Sarang Kotwal, who recused himself from the case. The matter is still pending a formal hearing.
**FAQ**
**What are the allegations against Chetan Mehta?**
Chetan Mehta is accused of misappropriating funds amounting to Rs 1,243 crore during his tenure as a trustee of Lilavati Hospital, following a forensic audit that revealed financial irregularities.