Considering the fact that the challenge faced by the Zambezi Portland Cement is among the biggest for Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani, it can be said that the Ventriglia family are the major corporate rivals for the noted businessman and philanthropist in Zambia. Dr. Rajan Mahtani owned Finsbury Investments took over the ownership of the Portland Cement Zambia factory in the year 2007 by taking over 58 percent shares under an official shareholding agreement. However, the Ventriglia family immediately challenged the legality of this instrument and this resulted in a significant court battle at the Lusaka High Court which lasted for more than a decade. Despite sharing all evidences and testimonials, Dr. Rajan Mahtani did not receive justice and the judge from the Lusaka High Court announced Ventriglias as the only shareholders of the Portland Cement Zambia.
Dr. Rajan Mahtani was able to successfully reverse this misdirected verdict at the Higher Court of Appeal. On 31st January 019, judge Mwinde on behalf of the higher Court of Appeal announced that Dr. Rajan Mahtani is indeed the majority shareholder and legal owner of the Portland Cement Zambia factory. While this decision was made with evidences and testimonials, the Ventriglia family once again decided to disrupt Portland Cement operations.
A new appeal was made by the Ventriglia family in which they challenged the decision from the higher Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court Zambia established a bench of three judges to evaluate this appeal and found that this appeal is made without any legal or technical basis. The appeal further did not fulfil the legal criteria of submitting such claims within 14 days of previous judgement. Based on these evaluations, the claim by the Ventriglia family was effectively rejected by the Supreme Court Zambia.
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