The Gujarat High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Ajay Rameshbhai Trivedi, imposing a cost of ₹20 lakh on him for misusing the court process for personal gain. The court found that Trivedi, who identified himself as an RTI activist, was involved in a blackmailing scandal and attempted to use the PIL mechanism for ulterior motives.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Pranav Trivedi held that Trivedi filed the PIL with the intention of personal benefit, falsely alleging illegal constructions near Lajpore Central Jail in Surat. The court stated:
“The present public interest litigation seems to have been filed with ulterior motive for personal gain... The fact that the petitioner has been caught in one case of blackmailing in a sting operation is sufficient to show him the exit doors of the Court.”
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The court further directed Trivedi to deposit the exemplary cost of ₹20 lakh within two months, specifying that the amount would be utilized for welfare projects benefiting orphan children through the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority.
To prevent future misuse, the court instructed that any PIL filed in Trivedi’s name regarding Surat district should first be scrutinized by the Registrar (Judicial) and not be entertained without review.
During the hearing, the respondent Gita Industries Co-Operative Service Society Ltd highlighted that Trivedi was caught red-handed in a sting operation, accepting ₹45 lakh in extortion money. The FIR revealed that Trivedi attempted to blackmail businessman Mahendrakumar Dhirajlal Patel, demanding ₹5 crore under the threat of lodging complaints to environmental authorities.
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The court emphasized that allowing such a person to misuse judicial processes undermines the credibility of the justice system. It cited previous Supreme Court rulings, warning against abuse of the PIL mechanism by "busybody or a meddlesome interloper" with personal motives.
Concluding the matter, the court ruled:
“The present petition filed in the nature of public interest litigation is liable to be dismissed outrightly with the exemplary cost of ₹20,00,000 (₹20 lakh).”
The court’s firm stance aims to uphold the sanctity of the PIL process and prevent its misuse for unethical purposes.
Case Title: Ajay Rameshbhai Trivedi vs. State of Gujarat & Ors.
Case No.: R/WRIT PETITION (PIL) (WRIT PETITION (PIL)) NO. 90 of 2021
