IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 31.08.2009 C O R A M THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.R.SHIVAKUMAR Crl.O.P.Nos.12726, 12753, 12754, 12755, 12756, 12758, 12759, 12760, 12761, 12762, 12763, 12764, 12765, 12790, 12791, 12796, 12848, 12725, 12757, 12766, 12767, 12769, 12770, 12787, 12788, 12789, 12792, 12793, 12794, 12795, 13344, 13371 and 13407 of 2009 and M.Ps.Nos.1 and 2 of 2009 M.Gopalakrishnan Petitioner in Crl.O.P.Nos. 12726,12753,12754,12755,12758, 12759,12760,12761,12762,12763, 12764,12765,12790,12791,12796/09, 12848,13371/2009 A.V. Shanmugasundaram Petitioner in Crl.O.P.12725/09,12757, 12766,12767,12769,12770,12787,12788, 12789,12792,12793,12794,12795,13344 and 13407/09 Vs State by 1st Respondent in Crl.O.P.No.12726/09, Inspector of Police, 12753,12754,12755,12757,12758,12759, CBI/ACB/Chennai 12791,12796,12848,12725/09,12769 12787,12788,12789,12792, 13344/2009 State by Inspector of Police CBI/BSFC/Bangalore 1st Respondent in Crl.O.P.12760/09, 12761/09,12762/09,12763/09,12765, 12766,12788,12789,12791,12793, 12848,13407/2009 State by Inspector of Police 1st Respondent in Crl.O.P.Nos.12758/09 CBI/BSFC,Delhi 12992,12795/2009 State by Inspector of Police CBI/EOW/Chennai 1stRespondent inCrl.O.P.Nos.12764/09, 12767,12770,12787,12790,12794,13344, 13371/2009 2 A.V.Shanmuga Sundaram 3 K. Sundaramurthy 4 Dana Singh https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 5 Anandan Pillai 6 M/s. Akilan Constructions H.32/45,Astalakshmi Gardens, Besent Nagar, Chennai-90 Respondents 2 to 6 in Crl.O.P.No.12726/09 2 A.V.Shanmuga Sundaram 3 J.M.Pandey 4 Mathew Sebastian 5 M.U.S. Rao 6 Ashok Kumar Rahoji 7 S.P.Narasimohan 8 S.Ramachandran Respondents 2 to 8 in Crl.O.P.12753/09 2 A.V.Shanmugasundaram 3 J.M.Pandey 4 Mathew Sebastian 5 A.W.Shihabudeen Respondents 2 to 5 in Crl.O.P.12754/09 2 A.V.Shanmugasundaram 3 Satish Kumar Respondents 2 to 3 in Crl.O.P.12755/09 2 M/s.Kiran Innovatrious No.4 & 5, Sydanhams Road, Arunachalam Lane, Periamet, Chennai-3 3 Rajiv Batna 4 Kiran Batna 5 P.L. K.R. Srinivasan 6 M.Aziz 7 A.V.Shanmugasundaram Respondents 2 to 7 in Crl.O.P.12756/09 2 M.Gopala Krishnan 3 B.Muthiah 4 G.V.Srinivasan 5 A.Ravishankar Prasad 6 A.Manohar Prasad 7 P.R.Kotteeswara Rao Respondents 2 to 8 in 8 Gemeni Arts Pvt Ltd, Chennai. Crl.O.P.12757/09 2 V.R.Chidambaram 3 A.V.Shanmuga Sundaram 4 B.Natarajan 5 V.Srinivasan 6 Nazirudeen Abdul Wahid 7 Thahakutty Abdul Wahid https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 8 Shihabudeen Abdul Wahid 9 Faizal Abdul Wahid 10 S.Ramesh 11 M/s. Eastwest Travel & Trade Links Pvt.Ltd., No.2-4-B, Silver Apartments, Shankar Ghanekar Road, Mumbai Respondents 2 to 11 in Crl.O.P.12758/09 2 M/s.Enkay Foods Pvt Ltd., A1 (Formerly Global Agro Exports) 33,Melpadi Muthu Street Nungambakkam, Chennai-34 Represented by K.Srinivasan and S.Srinivasa Raghavan 3 K.Srinivasan 4 S.Srinivasan Raghavan 5 K.Subramaniam 6 N.Ramakrishnan 7 N.Kumarasamy 8 B.Subramanian 9 S.Arunachalam 10 V.Srinivasan 11 A.V.Shanmugasundaram 12 N.Seetharaman 13 K.Sai Jagannathan 14 S.P.Vairavan 15 M.Varatharajaloo 16 S.Sridharan 17 M/s.M.V.R.Exports Pvt.Ltd Royala Towers, No.781, Anna Salai Chennai-2 Represented by S.P.Vairavan 18 M/s. Maxell Exports Pvt. Ltd., Royala Towers No.781,Anna Salai, Chennai-2, Represented by S.P.Vairavan 19 M/s.Sathyam Foods Pvt.Ltd., 30 HIG Flat Nandanam, Chennai-35, Represented by its Director H.Arulmanalan Respondents 2 to 19 in Crl.O.P.No.12759/09 2 N.Kumarasamy 3 Balakrishnan 4 R.Srinivasa Raghava 5 A.R.Arunachalam 6 P.Vasangharajan 7 S.Jayaraman 8 M.Varadharajulu https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 9 V.Krishnakumar 10 G.Sambasivan 11 C.S.Usha Devi 12 K.SaiJagannathan 13 M/s. Anderson Industries International Ltd., 89, 4th Street, Abhiramapuram Chennai-18, Rep.by Its Director, K.Sai Jaganathan 14 M/s. Sathyam Chemicals 28, West CIT Nagar, Nandanam, Chennai-35 Rep.by Director, K.Sai Jaganathan Respondents 2 to 14 in Crl.O.P.No.12760/09 2 A.V.Shanmugasundaram 3 B.Muthiah 4 M.Azeez 5 A.Ravishankar Prasad, 6 A.Manohar Prasad, 7 M/s.Gemini Picture Circuit Pvt.Ltd (Rep.by A.Ravishankar Prasad and A.Manohar Prasad, No.2, Vembuli Amman Koil St. Virugambakkam, Chennai 8 M/s. Asian Photo Films (P) Ltd. Represented by its Directors P.Kiran & R.Raghunathan V.K.Iyer Avenue Luz, Mylapore, Chennai Respondents 2 to 8 in WP.No.12761/09 2. A.V. Shanmugasundaram 3. B. Natarajan, 4 V. Srinivasan 5. K.R. Muralidharan 6. K.T. Venkateswaran 7. Sujaritha Sundararajan 8. T.S. Venkateswaran 9. H.M. Prathiba 10. A. Ravishankar Prasad 11. A. Manohar Prasad 12. M/s. Ravishankar Films Pvt. Ltd., (Now M/s. Ravishankar Industries Pvt. Ltd.,) Represented by A. Ravishankar Prasad and A. Manohar Prasad No.2, Sarangapani Street, T.Nagar, Chennai -17. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 13. S. Ravindran 14. V.S. Madhavan 15. K. Shivagurunathan 16. G. Karunaidhi 17. K. Sundaramurthy 18. N. Balakrishnan 19. C. Sathyanarayana 20. P. Sathya Reddy 21. R. Srinivasan 22. P. Kiran 23. A. Narasimhan 24. G. Sethuraman 25. V. Suresh Kumar 26. R. Raghunandan 27. A. Sriramulu 28. N. Gopalakrishnan 29. S. Ramesh 30. V.R.Chidambaram, 31. K.S.Elango .. Respondents 2 to 31 in Crl. Op.12762/09 2. A.v. Shanmugasundaram 3. Shri.P.L.K.R. Srinivasan 4. D. Natarajan .. Respondents 2 to 4 in Crl. Op. 12763/09 2. M/s. Kiran Oversease Ltd., A1 No.4&5, Sydanhams Road, Arunachalam Lane, Periamet, Chennai - 3. 3. M/s. Kiran Oversease Ltd., A2 No.A2/21, Model Town, New Delhi. 4. Ranjiv Batra, A3 5. Kiran Batra, A4 6. P.L.K.R. Srinivasan, A5 7. U.V. Ruppai, A6 8. Aziz, A7 9. G.V. Srinivasan, A8 10. Muthiah, A9 11. A.V. Shanmuga Sundaram, A10 12. S.Arunachalam, A11 ..Respondents 2 to 12 in Crl.OP.12764/09 2. N. Kumarasamy, 3. K. Kuberanathan 4. V.Srinivasan https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 5. M/s. M.V.R. Industries Ltd., 5th Floor, Rayala towers Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002 (through MD S.P. Vairavan) 6. M/s. Maxwell Exim Pvt Ltd., 5th Floor, Rayala towers Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002 (through G. Balakrishnan Director) 7. M. Varadarajulu 8. S.P. Vairavan 9. K. Sai Jaganathan 10. G.S. Kumar 11. G. Balakrishnan 12. K. Sugumaran 13. Madhusoodhanan 14. V.R. Usha 15. P. Vijayaragavan 16. B. Chandramouly 17. M.A. Joseph Xavier Basil 18. R. Ramesh 19. T.S. Jayakumar 20. Kala Kumarasamy .. Respondents 2 to 20 in Crl.OP.12765/09 2. S.Arunachalam 3. N.Chandrasekar Rao 4. B.Subramanian, 5. A.V.Shanmuga Sundaram 6. N.Kumarasamy 7. V.Srinivasan 8. K.Subramanian 9. N.Ramakrishnan Respondents 10.N.Seetharaman 2 to 16 in 11.M.Varadarajulu @ M.V.Raja Crl. O.P NO.12790/09 12.S.P.Vairavan 13.K.SaiJeganathan 14.M/S.Sathyam Foods Pvt.Ltd No.30, HIG Flats, Nandanam, Chennai- 35. 15.H.Arulmanalan 16.R.Palaniappan https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 2. A.V.Shanmugasundaram 3. B.Muthiah 4. G.V.Srinivasan Respondent 5. A.Ravishankar Prasad 2 to 8 in 6. A. Manohar Prasad Crl.O.P.No.12791/09 7. P.R.Kotesswara Rao 8. Gemini Arts Pvt.Ltd, No.60, Annasalai Chennai. 2. V.Raj Rumar 3. K.Sai Jeganathan Respondent 4. N.Ramakrishnan 2 to 4 in Crl.O.P.No.12796/09 2. A.V.Shanmugasundaram 3. V.Srinivasan 4. K.R.Muralidharan 5. A.Ravishankar Prasad 6. A. Manohar Prasad 7. M/S.Prasad Properties & Investment & (P)Ltd., (Represented by A.Ravishankar Prasad (A4) and A.Monohar Prasad (A5) No.2,Sarangapani Street, T.Nagar, Chennai.17. 8. S.Ramesh 9. M/S.Asian Photo Films (P) Ltd., Represented by P.Kiran & R.Ragunathan, its Directors V.K.Iyer Avenue, Luz, Mylapore, Chennai. 10. S. Ravindran 11. R.Shivagurunathan 12. B.Natarajan 13. N.Balakrishnan 14. B.Subramanian 15. L.Natarajan Respondent 2 to 15 in Crl.O.P.No.12848/09 2. Gopalakrishnan 3. K.Sundaramurthy 4. Danasingh Respondent 5. Anandan pillai 2 to 6 in 6.M/S. Aklaim Construction Crl.O.P.No.12725/09 H.32/45, Astalakshmi Gardens Besant Nagar, Chennai.90, https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 2. M.Gopalakrishnan 3. B.Muthiah 4. G.V.Srinivasan Respondent 5. A.Ravishankar Prasad 2 to 8 in 6. A. Manohar Prasad Crl.O.P.No.12757/09 7. P.R.Kotesswara Rao 8. Gemini Arts Pvt.Ltd, No.60, Annasalai Chennai. 2. Gopalakrishnan.M 3. B.Natarajan 4. V.Srinivasan 5. K.R.Muralidharan 6. K.T.Venkateswaran 7. Sujaritha Sundarajan 8. T.S.Venkateswaran 9. H.M. Prathiba 10.A.Ravishankar Prasad 11.A. Mahohar Prasad 12.M/S.Ravishankar films Pvt.Ltd., ( New M/S.Ravishankar Industries Pvt.Ltd., Represented by A.Ravishankar Prasad and A.Manohar Prasad No.2,Sarangapani Street, T.Nagar, Chennai.17. 13.S.Ravindran 14.V.S.Madhavan 15.K.Shivagurunathan 16.G.Karunaidhi 17.K.Sundaramurthy 18.N.Balakrishnan 19.C.Sathyanarayana 20.P.Sathya Reddy 21.R.Srinivasan 22.P.Kiran 23.A.Narasimhan 24.G.Sethuraman 25.V.Suresh Kumar Respondent 26.R.Raghunandan 2 to 31 in 27.S.Ramesh Crl.O.P.No.12766/09 28.N.Gopalakrishnan 29.S.Ramesh 30.V.R.Chidambaram 31.K.S.Elango 2. M.Gopalakrishnan 3. J.M.Pandy 4. Mathew Sebastian 5. A.W.Shihabudeen .. Respondents 2 to 5 in Crl OP 12767/09 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 2. M/S.Enkay Foods Pvt. Ltd., (Formerly Global Agro Exports) 33, Melpadi Muthu Street, Nungambakkam, Chennai-34 Represented by K.Srinivasan and S.Srinivasa Raghavan 3. K.Srinivasan 4. S.Srinivasa Raghavan 5. K.Subramanian 6. N.Ramakrishnan 7. N.Kumarasamy 8. B.Subramanian 9. M.Gopalakrishnan 10.S.Arunachalam 11.V.Srinivasan 12.N.Seetharaman 13.K.Sai Jagannathan 14.S.P.Vairavan 15.M.Varatharajulu 16.S.Sridharan 17.M/s.MVR Exports Pvt Ltd., Rayala Towers No.781, Anna Salai, Chennai-2, Represented by S.P.Vairavan 18.M/S.Maxell Exim Pvt. Ltd., Rayala Towers -do- 19.M/s.Sathyam Foods Pvt., Ltd., 30, HIG Flats, Nandanam, Chennai-35. Rep. by its - H.Arulmanalan .. Respondents 2 to 19 in Crl OP 12769/09 2.M/s.Kiran Overseas Ltd., No.4 & 5, Sydanhams Road, Arunachalam Lane, Periamet, Chennai-3 3.M/s.Kiran Overseas Ltd., No.A2/21, Model Town, New Delhi 4. Ranjiv Batra, 5. Kiran Batra, 6. P.L.K.R.Srinivasan 7. U.V.Ruppai 8. Aziz 9. G.V.Srinivasan 10.Muthiah 11.S.Arunachalam 12.M.Gopalakrishnan .. Respondents 2 to 12 in Crl Op No.12770/09 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 2. M.Gopalakrishnan 3. S.Arunachalam 4. N.Chandrasekar Rao, 5. B.Subramanian 6. N.Kumarasamy 7. V.Srinivasan 8. K.Subramanian, 9. N.Ramakrishnan, 10.N.Seetharaman 11.M.Varadarajulu @ M.V.Raja 12.S.P.Vairavan 13.K.Sai Jeganathan 14.M/s. Sathayam Foods Pvt. Ltd., No.30, HIG Flats, Nandanam, Chennai-35 15.H.Arulmanalan 16.R.Palaniappan .. Respondents 2 to 16 in Crl OP 12787/09 2. M.Gopalakrishnan 3. SatishKumar .. Respondents 2 & 3 in Crl OP 12788/09 2. M.Gopalakrishnan 3. PL.K.R.Srinivasan 4. D.Natarajan .. Respondents 2 to 4 in Crl OP No.12789/09 2. M.GOPALAKRISHNAN 3. V.R.CHIDAMBARAM 4. B.NATARAJAN 5. V.SRINIVASAN 6. NAZIRUDEEN ABDUL WAHID 7. THAHAKUTTY ABDUL WAHID 8. SHIHABUDEEN ABDUL WAHID 9. FAIZAL ABDUL WAHID 10. S.RAMESH 11.M/S.EAST WEST TRAVEL AND TRADE LINKS PVT LTD NO.2-4 SILVER APARTMENTS SHANKAR GHANEKAR ROAD MUMBAI ... Respondents 2 to 11 in Crl.O.P.No.12792/09 2 M.GOPALAKRISHNAN 3 B.MUTHIAH 4 M.AZEEZ 5 A.RAVISHANKAR PRASAD 6 A.MANOHAR PRASAD https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 7 M/S.GEMINI PICTURERS CIRCUIT PVT LTD REP BY A.RAVISHANKAR PRASAD (A4) and A.MANOHAR PRASAD (A5), NO.2 VEMBULIAMMANKOIL STREET VIRUGAMBAKKAM CHENNAI 8 M/S.ASIAN PHOTO FILMS PVT LTD REP BY P.KIRAN AND R.RAGUNATHAN ITS DIRECTORS V.K.IYER AVENUE LUZ, MYLAPORE CHENNAI ... Respondents 2 to 8 in Crl.O.P.No.12793/09 2.M/S KIRAN INNOVATIONS NO.4 & 5 SYDANHAMS ROAD, ARUNACHALAM LANE, PERIAMET, CHENNAI-3 3 RANJIV BATRA 4 KIRAN BATRA 5 M. GOPALAKRISHNAN 6 P.L.K.R.SRINIVASAN 7 M. AZIZ ... Respondents 2 to 7 in Crl.O.P.No.12794/09 2 M. GOPALAKRISHNAN 3 J.M.PANDEY 4 MATHEW SEBASTIN 5 M.U.S. RAO 6 ASHOK KUMAR RAHOJI 7 S.P.NARASIMHAN 8 S. RAMACHANDRAN ... Respondents 2 to 8 in Crl.O.P.No.12795/09 2 M.GOPALAKRISHNAN 3 R.SOMAYAJI 4 K.PANDIAN 5 RENGASWAMY 6 K.SUBRAMANIAN 7 K.SUNDARAMURTHY 8 S.R.SRIDHAR 9 K.VENKATESAN 10 M.VARADARAJULU 11 K.SAI JEGANATHAN 12 S.P.VAIRAVAN 13 N.KRISHNAMURTHY 14 K.SUBRAMANIAM 15 SMT.JANAKIAMMAL 16 K.SRINIVASAN 17 S.SRIDHARAN 18 SMT.S.HEMAMBUJAM 19 SRINIVASA RAGAVAN 20 D.GOPICHANDRAN 21 G.SELVAM 22 N.RAMAKRISHNAN https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 23 M/S.RAMRAJ TRADING CO PVT LTD REGD.OFFICE NO.45 MARKET STREET T.R.PATTNAM KARIKAL 24 M/S.JAIMATHA FARM DEALERS PVT LTD NO.7 IYYAMPERUMAL STREET ROYAPETTAH CHENNAI -14 25 M/S.WELL STORES (MADRAS) PVT LTD REGD OFFICE NO.112 VELLALAR STREET PONDICHERRY -1 26 M/S.INDECO BUILDERS PVT LTD NO.A7 BHATIA GARDENS MOUNT POONAMALLEE ROAD CHENNAI -116 27 M/S.SANJEEVI PACKAGING PVT LTD NO.151/10 MGR STREET VIRUGAMBAKAKM CHENNAI -92 28 M/S. ABHINAV EXIM PVT LTD NO.46 IST CROSS STREET SABHARI NAGAR PORUR CHENNAI -116 29 M/S.SATHYAM CHEMICALS PVT LTD NO.28 WEST STREET WEST CIT NAGAR NANDANAM CHENNAI -35 ... Respondents 2 to 29 in Crl.O.P.No.13344/09 2.A.V.Shanmuga Sundaram 3.R.Somayaji 4.K.Pandean 5.Rengaswamy 6.K.Subramanian 7.K.Sundaramurthy 8.S.R.Sridhar 9.K.Venkatesan 10.M.Varadarajulu 11.K.Sai Jeganathan 12.S.P.Vairavan 13.N.Krishnamurthy 14.K.Subramaniam 15.Smt.Janakiammal 16.K.Srinivasan 17.S.Sridharan 18.Smt.S.Hemambujam 19.Srinivasa Regavan 20.D.Gopichandran 21.G.Selvam 22.N.Ramakrishnan 23.M/s.Ramraj Trading Co.Pvt.Ltd., Regd Office: No.45, Market Street, T.R.Patnam, Karikal. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 24.M/s.Jaimatha Farm Dealers Pvt.Ltd., No.7, Iyyamperumal Street, Royapeetah,Chennai -14. 25.M/s. Well Stores (Madras) Pvt. Ltd., Regd Office:No.112, Vellalar Street, Pondicherry-1. 26.M/s.Indeco Builders Pvt. Ltd., No.A-7, Bhatia Gardens, Mount Poonamallee Road, Chennai-116. 27.M/s.Sanjeevi Packaging Pvt.Ltd., No.151/10, MGR Street, Virugambakkam, Chennai-92. 28.M/s.Abhinav Exim Pvt.Ltd., No.46, 1st Cross Street, Sabhari Nagar, Porur, Chennai-116. 29.M/s.Sathyam Chemicals Pvt.Ltd., No.28, West Street, West CIT Nagar, Nandanam, Chenai-35. ..Respondents 2 to 29 in Crl.O.P No.13371/2009 2.V.Srinivasan 3.K.R.Muralidharan 4.A.Ravishankar Prasad 5.A.Manohar Prasad 6.M/s.Prasad Properties & Investments (P) Ltd., (Represented by A.Ravishankar Prasad (A4) and A.Manohar Prasad (A5) No.2, Sarangapani Street, T.Nagar, Chennai-17 7.M.Gopalakrishnan 8.S.Ramesh 9.M/s.Asian Photo Films (P) Ltd., represented by P.Kiran & R.Ragunanthan, its Directors V.K.Iyer Avenue, Luz, Mylapore, Chennai. 10.S.Ravindran 11.R.Shivagurunathan 12.B.Natarajan 13.N.Balakrishnan 14.B.Subramanian 15.L.Natarajan ..Respondents 2 to 15 in Crl.OP No.13407/2009 Prayer: These criminal original petitions have been filed under Section 407 of Cr.P.C to withdraw and transfer the case in C.C.Nos.33/1998, 13/2001, 14/2001, 56/2000, 3/2001, 57/2000, 58/2003, 1/2000, 81/2001, 71/2001, 29/1999, 15/2001, 64/2001, 17/2001, 80/2001, 55/2000, 82/2001, 36/1998 respectively from the file of XI Additional Special Judge for CBI cases, Chennai to any other competent court. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ For Petitioners: in Crl.OP Nos.12726,12753 to 12765, 12790,12791,12796 &12848/09 :Mr.A.L.Somayaji, SC for Mr.Sabapathy For Respondents: Mr.N.Chandrasekaran, Spl.PP for CBI Cases (R1) in all the cases Mr.K.M.Vijayan SC for M/s.K.R.Ramesh ..For Respondents 5 to 7 in Crl.OP 12761/2009 R10 to 12 in Crl.OP 12762/2009, R5,6 & 8 in Crl.OP 12791/2009, R4 to 6 in Crl.OP 12848/2009 R5,6 & 8 in Crl.OP 12757/2009 R10 to 12 in Crl.OP 12766/2009 R5 to R7 in Crl.OP 12793/2009 R4 to 6 in Crl.OP No.13407/2009 Mr.A.Raghunathan SC for Mr.Ramakrishnan for M/s.Waran & Sairam ..For 4th Resopondent in Crl.OP 12726/09 Respondent 4 & 12 to 18 in Crl.OP 12759/09 & R7 & 11 to 13 in Crl.OP No.12760/2009 R4 to R13 in Crl.OP 12765/2009 R7 & 10 to 15 in Crl.OP 12790/2009 R2 in Crl.OP 12796/2009 COMMON ORDER All these petitions have been filed under Section 407 Cr.P.C for withdrawing the calendar cases pending on the file of the XI Additional Sessions Judge, City Civil Court (special judge for CBI cases), Chennai from the file of the said court and transfer the same to any other competent court for trial and disposal in accordance with law. All the criminal cases concerned in these petitions were originally pending before the VIII Additional Sessions Judge (special judge for CBI cases). They were subsequently transferred to the file of the XI Additional Sessions Judge (special judge for CBI cases) pursuant to an order of the government made in G.O.Ms.No.1504 Home (Courts-II) Department 24.10.2007 transferring all bank fraud cases to the said court. The petitioners in each case and the other accused persons, who have also been arrayed as respondents 2 to 6 in Crl.O.P.No.12726/2009, respondents 2 to 8 in Crl.O.P.No.12753/2009, respondents 2 to 5 in Crl.O.P.No.12754/2009, respondents 2 to 5 in Crl.O.P.No.12755, respondents 2 to 7 in Crl.O.P.No.12756, respondents 2 to 11 in Crl.O.P.No.12758, respondents 2 to 19 in Crl.O.P.No.12759, respondents 2 to 14 in Crl.O.P.No.12760, https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ respondents 2 to 9 in Crl.O.P.No.12761, respondents 2 to 31 in Crl.O.P.No.12762, respondents 2 to 4 in Crl.O.P.No.12763, respondents 2 to 12 in Crl.O.P.No.12764, respondents 2 to 20 in Crl.O.P.No.12765, respondents 2 to 16 in Crl.O.P.No.12790, respondents 2 to 8 in Crl.O.P.No.12791, respondents 2 to 4 in Crl.O.P.No.12796, respondents 2 to 15 in Crl.O.P.No.12848, respondents 2 to 6 in Crl.O.P.No.12725, respondents 2 to 8 in Crl.O.P.No.12757, respondents 2 to 31 in Crl.O.P.No.12766, respondents 2 to 5 in Crl.O.P.No.12767, respondents 2 to 19 in Crl.O.P.No.12769, respondents 2 to 12 in Crl.O.P.No.12770, respondents 2 to 16 in Crl.O.P.No.12787, respondents 2 to 3 in Crl.O.P.No.12788, respondents 2 to 16 in Crl.O.P.No.12789, respondents 2 to 11 in Crl.O.P.No.12792, respondents 2 to 8 in Crl.O.P.No.12793, respondents 2 to 7 in Crl.O.P.No.12794, respondents 2 to 8 in Crl.O.P.No.12795, respondents 2 to 29 in Crl.O.P.No.13344, respondents 2 to 29 in Crl.O.P.No.13371 and respondents 2 to 15 in Crl.O.P.No.13407 are being prosecuted for alleged offences punishable under Sections 120-B, 420 IPC and Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 3(1)(b)of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. 2. The petitioners have come forward with the present petitions contending that the trial judge is biased against them, as the same was revealed by the fact that in a similar case i.e. C.C.No.66/2000 in which they were prosecuted for similar offences, each one of the petitioners were convicted with seven years rigorous imprisonment for each one of the offences with which they stood charged and were imposed a total fine of Rs.80,00,000/- (at the rate of Rs.10,00,000/- on each charge). 3. It is also their further contention that they suspect bias not because they were convicted, but because none of the defences raised by them in the written arguments submitted on their behalf by their advocates were considered by the learned trial judge. It is the further case of the petitioners that, in all 16 cases of similar nature arising out of the sanction of loan by the Chairman/Managing Director/Zonal Manager, the nature of accusation, the nature of evidence on the side of the prosecution and the nature of defence plea taken by the accused are similar in nature and that since the learned trial judge has already taken a particular view, the petitioners cannot expect an unbiased approach by the trial court in the cases now sought to be transferred. Besides citing some of the instances in connection with the case already disposed, namely C.C.No.66/2000, in support of their contention that they reasonably apprehend that there won't be any impartial and unbiased trial, the petitioners have also highlighted the inconvenience caused in the present cases by the method adopted by the trial court. According to the petitioners, such method adopted by the trial court will nevertheless amount to denial of a fair opportunity to the petitioners to effectively defend themselves in the prosecution launched against them. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 4. It is the contention of the petitioners that, without framing a schedule for the examination of witnesses in advance, the trial court has allowed the prosecution to examine a number of witnesses at their choice on a particular day, out of numerous witnesses cited on the side of the prosecution, without even informing the accused persons or the counsel for the accused persons sufficiently in advance so that the defence side counsel would be able to bring the papers connected with the said witnesses alone without there being any necessity to carry loads of copies of documents served on the accused persons. The further contention of the petitioners is that despite the fact that such inconvenience caused to the accused and their counsel was brought to the notice of the trial judge, the petitioners were informed that there was no need to give prior notice/information regarding who are all the witnesses to be examined on a particular day. 5. The further contention of the petitioners is that, it is practically impossible for them to instruct their counsel for instantaneous cross-examination of witnesses in the absence of a scheme for the examination of witnesses, when they were not in a position to know who are all the witnesses to be examined on a particular day of hearing, as the defence counsel has to deal with a number of voluminous documents; that under such circumstances alone they were forced to seek time for cross-examination or an order deferring cross-examination of such witnesses for the time being and that on all such occasions, the learned trial judge used to record 'NIL' or 'No cross' under the caption cross-examination. 6. Several instances during the course of trial have been cited in the affidavits filed in support of the petitions to substantiate their contention that the petitioners are not given fair chances and reasonable opportunities to effectively defend themselves and that they have reason to suspect that the trial judge acts with bias in conducting the trial. 7. Respondents 2 to 6 in Crl.O.P.No.12726/2009, respondents 2 to 8 in Crl.O.P.No.12753/2009, respondents 2 to 5 in Crl.O.P.No.12754/2009, respondents 2 to 5 in Crl.O.P.No.12755, respondents 2 to 7 in Crl.O.P.No.12756, respondents 2 to 11 in Crl.O.P.No.12758, respondents 2 to 19 in Crl.O.P.No.12759, respondents 2 to 14 in Crl.O.P.No.12760, respondents 2 to 9 in Crl.O.P.No.12761, respondents 2 to 31 in Crl.O.P.No.12762, respondents 2 to 4 in Crl.O.P.No.12763, respondents 2 to 12 in Crl.O.P.No.12764, respondents 2 to 20 in Crl.O.P.No.12765, respondents 2 to 16 in Crl.O.P.No.12790, respondents 2 to 8 in Crl.O.P.No.12791, respondents 2 to 4 in Crl.O.P.No.12796, respondents 2 to 15 in Crl.O.P.No.12848, respondents 2 to 6 in Crl.O.P.No.12725, respondents 2 to 8 in Crl.O.P.No.12757, respondents 2 to 31 in Crl.O.P.No.12766, respondents 2 to 5 in Crl.O.P.No.12767, respondents 2 to 19 in Crl.O.P.No.12769, respondents 2 to 12 in Crl.O.P.No.12770, respondents 2 to 16 in Crl.O.P.No.12787, respondents 2 to 3 in Crl.O.P.No.12788, https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ respondents 2 to 16 in Crl.O.P.No.12789, respondents 2 to 11 in Crl.O.P.No.12792, respondents 2 to 8 in Crl.O.P.No.12793, respondents 2 to 7 in Crl.O.P.No.12794, respondents 2 to 8 in Crl.O.P.No.12795, respondents 2 to 29 in Crl.O.P.No.13344, respondents 2 to 29 in Crl.O.P.No.13371 and respondents 2 to 15 in Crl.O.P.No.13407 are the co-accused. All of them support the case of the petitioners seeking transfer of the case from the present trial court. The State represented by the Inspector of Police, CBI/BSFC, Bangalore/Chennai/Delhi, arrayed as the first respondent, has resisted these petitions by filing a common counter affidavit for all the above criminal OPs contending as follows:- "All the cases were registered between the years 1996 and 1998. After submission of final reports, trial was pending in two special courts for CBI cases, namely Principal Sessions Judge for CBI cases (VIII Additional Sessions Judge) and Additional special judge for CBI cases (IX Additional Sessions Judge), Chennai. By virtue of government orders in G.O.Ms.No.811 Home (Courts.II) Department dated 06.06.2007 and G.O.Ms.No.1504 Home (Courts.II) Department, Government of Tamil Nadu published in G.O.No.1504 dated 24.10.2007, the court of XI Additional Sessions Judge, Chennai (special court) was designated as a special court for speedy trial of CBI cases relating to banks and financial institutions. The said court is the exclusive and competent court to try cases relating to banks and other financial institutions investigated by CBI. Hence the cases cannot be transferred from the said court to any other court, as no other court has been designated as special court for bank fraud cases. Specific direction has also been issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Crl.A.Nos.1080 to 1089 of 2009 to avoid unnecessary adjournments, to conduct trial on a day- to-day basis and to conclude the trial as expeditiously as possible. The trial is being conducted in a fair manner and full opportunity is given to the accused to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses. Thus the petitions for transferring the cases are not maintainable, either on law or on fact. They have been filed in an attempt to protract the trial and hence all the petitions should be dismissed." 8. In the light of the above said pleadings, the following points are ear-marked as issues that have arisen for consideration in these petitions. 1.Whether these petitions for transfer of cases are not maintainable, as the court in which the cases are pending is a special court constituted for the trial of such cases? 3.Whether the apprehension of the petitioners that there may not be a fair and impartial trial is reasonable and whether the cases should be transferred as prayed for by the petitioners? https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 8. This court heard the submissions made by Mr.A.L.Somayaji, learned senior counsel representing Mr.Sabapathy, by Mr.A.Raghunathan, learned senior counsel, by Mr.C.Sivakumar, learned counsel for the petitioners in other criminal OPs, by Mr.N.Chandrasekaran, learned special Public prosecutor, representing the first respondent in all these criminal OPs, by Mr.K.M.Vijayan, learned senior counsel representing Mr.K.M.Ramesh Kumar, counsel on record for other respondents, by Mr.Ramakrishnan representing M/s.Waraon & Sairams, by Mr.R.Sankaranarayanan, by Mr.Mr.M.Kempraj, by Mr.T.M.Buvaneswaran and by Mr.C.S.Pillai representing other respondents in other criminal OPs. 9. Attributing bias to the trial judge and expressing an apprehension that there won't be any fair and impartial trial if the criminal cases (C.C.Nos.33/1998, 13/2001, 14/2001, 56/2000, 3/2001, 57/2000, 58/2003, 1/2000, 81/2001, 71/2001, 29/1999, 15/2001, 64/2001, 17/2001, 80/2001, 55/2000, 82/2001, 36/1998) are allowed to be tried by the said judge, the petitioners (accused) have come forward with these petitions seeking orders withdrawing the above said criminal cases from the file of XI Additional Sessions Judge (Special Judge for CBI Cases), Chennai and transferring the same to the file of any other court competent to try the same. 10. These petitions are resisted by the first respondent/CBI on the question of maintainability and also on merit. According to the first respondent, since the court in which the criminal cases now sought to be transferred are pending is the only special court constituted for the trial of the particular category of cases, no other court should be held to be competent to try the cases. The learned special public prosecutor for CBI cases advanced an argument to the effect that a case pending on the file of a specially constituted court, cannot be transferred from the said court, if there is no other court designated as special court for the same category of cases and that hence the petitions seeking transfer of the cases should be rejected as not maintainable. Per contra, it is the arguments advanced not only on behalf of the petitioners but also on behalf of the other respondents, who support the petitioners, that the power of the High Court under Section 407 Cr.P.C is not taken away or in any way abridged because a particular court has been designated to be a special court for trial of particular type of cases. It is the further contention raised on behalf of the petitioners and the other respondents that the government orders constituting special court would be construed to be only an order for the distribution of the