Mr Markand Adhikari v. Punjab National Bank And ANR
$~76 *
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+ W.P.(C) 1697/2026, CM APPL. 8216/2026 MR MARKAND ADHIKARI .....Petitioner Through:
Mr. J. Sai Deepak, Sr. Adv.; Mr.
Varun garg, Adv.; Ms. Nishpreha Mittal, Adv.
versus PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK AND ANR .....Respondents Through:
Mr. Santosh Kumar Rout counsel for PNB
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASMEET SINGH
O R D E R
% 06.02.2026 CM APPL. 8217/2026 & CM APPL. 8218/2026 Exemption allowed, subject to all just exceptions. The application is disposed of.
W.P.(C) 1697/2026 1.
This is a writ petition filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India seeking the following prayers:- "a. Issue a Writ of Certiorari, or any other appropriate writ, order, or direction quashing/setting aside the proceedings being undertaken by the Respondent No. 1 Bank for declaring the Petitioner and the account of M/s SAB Global Entertainment Media Pvt. Ltd. as 'fraud' including the Show Cause Notice dated 28.04.2025 and Notice of personal hearing dated 23.01.2026 and all consequential actions arising therefrom, as The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
being illegal, arbitrary, non-est in law, and in violation of the principles of natural justice and the RBI Master Directions on Fraud;
2.
Mr. Deepak, learned senior counsel for the petitioner, states that in the present case, the petitioner has sought documents from the respondent No. 1 Bank, which was also directed by this Court in the earlier round of litigation being W.P.(C) 18811/2025 vide order dated 11.12.2025. The relevant paragraph from the said reads as under:- "10. Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of taking the assurance of PNB on record. The documents sought by the Petitioner, as aforementioned, shall be supplied to the Petitioner within 15 days from today. Reply shall be filed to the show cause notice by the Petitioner within 21 days from the date of receipt of the documents in consonance with Clause 2.1.1.
2 of the Reserve Bank of India (Fraud Risk Management in Commercial Banks (including Regional Rural Banks) and All India Financial Institutions) Directions, 2024, whereafter it will be open to PNB to pass an order, in accordance with law, after affording personal hearing to the Petitioner. In light of this, any personal hearing scheduled in the meantime will be deferred. It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case."
3.
Despite the orders, the respondent No. 1 Bank has not supplied the documents and has fixed a personal hearing for 10.02.2026. 4.
Mr. Deepak, learned senior counsel for the petitioner, states that all the documents mentioned in the letter dated 19.01.2026 have not been The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
supplied which are important for the petitioner to give a meaningful response and without which the hearing of 10.02.2026 will be an empty formality.
5.
For the said reasons, issue notice.
6.
Mr. Rout, learned standing counsel accepts notice on behalf of the respondent No. 1 Bank and states that whatever documents available with the petitioner as per the list dated 19.01.2026 will be provided and the other documents which are not available will also be informed to the petitioner within a period of one week from today. 7.
Within 21 days from the date of receipt of the letter/communication from the respondent No. 1 Bank, the petitioner shall file a reply to the show cause notice and thereafter, the respondent No. 1 Bank shall give a notice for personal hearing.
8.
The date of personal hearing i.e., 10.02.2026 stands cancelled. 9.
Without prejudice to the other rights and contentions of the parties, the present petition is disposed of along with pending applications, if any. JASMEET SINGH, J FEBRUARY 6, 2026/DM The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.