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The Karnataka High Court has convicted two representatives of India Awake  for filing repeated cases against IT major Wipro Limited and its founder and chairman Azim Premji.

The division bench of Justices B Veerappa and KS Hemalekha, observed that petitioners had filed repeated cases in the name of company which was non-existent. They had given the name as 'India Awake for Transparency' and did not give full name by hiding 'private limited' words.

The Bench has convicted R. Subramanian and P. Sadanand, under Contempts of Court Act. Subramanian appeared as counsel and Sadanand claimed to be a volunteer. The court sentenced both to simple imprisonment of two months and fined Rs 2,000 each.

Wipro Chairman Azim Premji, Wipro Limited and Hasham Investment and Trading Company Limited had filed a petition seeking action under criminal contempt against the Chennai based 'shell' company and its representatives.

The Bench opined that it is brazen attempt to conceal the fact and impersonation to mislead the court.

The Bench directed the registrar (judicial) to prepare a warrant for the duo's arrest. It also gave orders restraining them from filing any legal proceedings against the complainant and their group before any authorities including any court, tribunal and forums.

The Court had earlier dismissed the petition on Feb 12, 2021 by India Awake for Transparency and imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh. It also condemned the conduct of the petitioner.

The same was challenged in a divisional bench and on Mar 25, it upheld the previous order and noted that the company's conduct amounted to criminal contempt.

The petitioners claimed that large assets belonging to three companies were diverted after they wound up through gifts to a private trust controlled by Premji couple.

Premji couple maintained that though the matter was settled by the ministry of corporate affairs, even after that the petitioners filed slew of cases seeking probe.

[Case Title: Hasham Investment and Trading Company Private Limited v. India Awake For Transparency Pvt Ltd]