BAI Case: Bhadain Seeks to Overturn Dawood Rawat’s Injunction

Roshi Bhadain, the former Minister of Good Governance, has filed a request with the Supreme Court to annul an injunction obtained by Dawood Rawat, the former president of the now-defunct BAI Group (Mauritius). Bhadain asserted that he has no connection to the assets in question, which has led to his challenge against Rawat’s injunction.

The Supreme Court has been presented with four applications aimed at modifying or, in some instances, completely overturning the temporary injunction that Dawood Rawat secured against the sale of his assets.

This injunction was issued on 13 March 2025 by Judge Jane Lau Yuk Poon.

The applications were submitted by the National Insurance Company Ltd (NIC), the National Property Fund Limited (NPFL), the Financial Services Commission (FSC), and Bhadain himself.

Both the NIC and NPFL have argued that the temporary injunction hampers their ability to meet financial obligations, particularly towards their policyholders, employees, and subscribers of the Super Cash Back Gold scheme.

The NIC has indicated a monthly requirement of Rs 130 million for benefits and Rs 40 million for operational costs, while the NPFL has highlighted its inability to manage its real estate assets valued at Rs 678 million.

The FSC opposed the injunction, claiming it is obstructing its functions and lacking sufficient legal grounding.

Bhadain, for his part, is seeking annulment on the grounds of having no ties to the contested assets.

On 21 March 2025, three of the four challengers—NIC, NPFL, and FSC—secured a partial modification of the injunction, which was effective until Monday, 7 April 2025.

These entities contended that the original form of the temporary injunction jeopardised their daily operations.

Consequently, the injunction has been amended to apply solely to assets in which Dawood Rawat holds a direct, vested, and beneficial interest.

The four applications were heard on Monday, 7 April 2025, before Chief Justice Bibi Rehana Mungly-Gulbul, who questioned whether it was necessary to continue with the challenges given the partial modification granted.

Bhadain’s counsel, Yash Balgobin, clarified that his request specifically pertains to the annulment of the injunction.

Following a consultation with Harsha Gobin, who was standing in for Bhadain’s lawyer Gilbert Noël, Rawat proposed that the four applications be referred back to the judge in chambers to prevent any duplicity in the proceedings.

The Chief Justice agreed to this request and has scheduled the four applications for hearing on 10 and 11 April 2025, while maintaining the injunction in its amended form.

It is important to note that Rawat’s injunction targets the NPFL, NIC, the Bank of Mauritius, the FSC, the Director of Insolvency Georges Elie Chung Ming Man, Mohamad Yacoob Ayoob Hajee Allymamode Ramtoola, PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd, Yogesh Raj Bageet, and André Bonieux.

Former ministers Vishnu Lutchmeenaraidoo and Roshi Bhadain are named as co-defendants in the case.

Source: Defi Media