The Supreme Court of India on Friday delivered its order in a set of writ petitions concerning multiple FIRs against the management and associates of a Telangana-based firm accused of duping investors. The petitions, led by Odela Satyam & Anr. vs. State of Telangana & Ors., sought to consolidate all cases registered across several States into a single investigation.
Background
The accused, including firm directors and their relatives, have been booked in Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The allegations are broadly similar-misappropriation of funds collected from small investors through dubious schemes. Telangana’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Cyberabad, registered four separate FIRs, while Maharashtra recorded two. Other States had single complaints.
Petitioners argued that the charges arose from the “same cause of action” and that multiple FIRs created unnecessary harassment. They asked the apex court not only to merge the existing cases but also to prevent future FIRs in other States.
Court’s Observations
The bench, headed by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran, was not persuaded by the sweeping request. “The prayer for clubbing of FIRs from various States and also regarding future FIRs is overambitious and outright illegal,” the judges noted, recalling earlier rulings in Amandeep Singh and Amish Devgan.
The Court pointed out that unlike cases of identical statements or broadcasts where one action triggered multiple complaints, here each FIR was tied to different groups of investors, different States, and sometimes different laws such as the Telangana Protection of Depositors Act or the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act.
“The offence was one in Amish Devgan, of an objectionable statement on a television show. That stands distinct from the instant case wherein FIRs were registered on the complaints of investors who were alleged to have been duped by the firm diverting the funds,” the bench observed.
The Decision
Balancing practicality with fairness, the Court ordered partial transfers. In Telangana, the Madhapur FIR was shifted to the EOW, Cyberabad. In Maharashtra, the Thane FIR was moved to Nagpur’s Ambazari Police Station. But the plea to club all FIRs from across the country was rejected.
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The bench also gave significant interim relief. Several petitioners languishing in jail were directed to be released on bail, subject to conditions of cooperation. Those facing pending warrants were spared immediate arrest, provided they appear before trial courts within six months to seek regular bail. Importantly, the Court clarified that if witnesses are required to travel due to these transfers, the accused must bear their expenses.
The order concluded firmly: protection from arrest and coercive steps would last only six months. After that, the accused must approach jurisdictional courts for regular bail, failing which, police would proceed as per law.
Case Title: Odela Satyam & Anr. v. State of Telangana & Ors. (2025, Supreme Court of India)
Date of Judgment: September 26, 2025
