Dr. Rajan Mahtani’s journey from Lusaka High Court to higher Court of Appeal has been full of ups and downs. This journey was taken for Portland Cement Zambia, a cement-manufacturing factory which was unethically taken over. The case was initially registered at the Lusaka High Court with a positive hope that the judge will provide quick decision considering the availability of critical evidences and facts. However, more than a decade passed and despite the long and stretched case proceedings, Dr. Rajan Mahtani did not receive justice. In the year 2017, final verdict on the case was announced by judge Nkonde on behalf of the Lusaka High Court. This decision was highly controversial as it announced Ventriglia family as the only shareholders of the Portland Cement Zambia factory, despite the obvious lack of evidences and testimonials from their end.
Dr. Rajan Mahtani quickly identified the challenges of this court and took the decision of approaching higher Court of Appeal. The case was chaired by Justice Mwinde and the case proceedings were quick. The final decision from the higher Court of Appeal was announced on 31st January 2019, around nine months after the case was registered at the higher Court of Appeal. According to the evidentiary support, justice Mwinde confirmed transfer of one billion kwachas from Dr. Rajan Mahtani owned Finsbury Investments to the Portland Cement Zambia limited. Furthermore, the excerpts from the original agreement between shareholders established in the year 2007 also confirmed that Dr. Mahtani owned 58 percent shares at the factory and has completed all monetary transactions associated with the exchange. As such, he is not liable for any further bills or dues associated with the factory.
Based on the identified evidences, the judge from the higher Court of Appeal confirmed that Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani is the actual owner and majority shareholder of the Portland Cement Zambia factory. The decision from higher Court of Appeal on this case is final and the case is now effectively closed.