A serious issue has come to light at the Rajasthan High Court in Jaipur, where case files linked to businessman Gyan Chand Agarwal and two other accused individuals have reportedly gone missing. These crucial files were kept in the criminal branch of the high court, and their absence was discovered on April 10, 2026. This incident has raised severe questions regarding the record-keeping system of the high court and the timely availability of case documents. However, available court records do not establish whether the files were deliberately removed or if any foul play was involved in their disappearance.
Missing Files and Registry Report
Gyan Chand Agarwal along with two other accused had filed petitions in the Rajasthan High Court seeking the quashing of criminal cases registered against them. The files associated with these petitions were found missing from the registry's criminal branch on April 10. Upon learning about this lapse, the high court sought a complete report of the matter from the Registrar (Judicial). Although the registry submitted a report to the court, the high court deemed it insufficient on April 22, 2026. Throughout this period, the interim protection from arrest granted to the accused remained in effect, and the hearings in the matter continued.
Supreme Court Rejects SLP
The matter subsequently reached the Supreme Court. On August 10, 2026, the Supreme Court declined to interfere with the ongoing proceedings in the Rajasthan High Court and dismissed the Special Leave Petition. However, the top court granted the petitioner permission to seek an expedited hearing of the pending case in the high court. The Supreme Court further noted that if the necessary records are untraceable in the high court registry, the petitioner may approach the Registrar General. Efforts can be made at the level of the Registrar General to trace the documents, and if found, they can be placed before the high court.
SOG Registered FIR in 2023
The core controversy originates from an FIR registered in 2023 by the Special Operations Group or SOG of the Rajasthan Police. The FIR included charges of cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and conspiracy. The petition alleged that despite earlier directions from the high court, Agarwal failed to join the investigation. Nonetheless, he continued to receive interim protection from arrest. The Supreme Court, in its August 10 order, did not adjudicate whether these allegations were true or false, nor did it determine why the records went missing from the high court or who was responsible for it.
No Direct Link to Justice Mehta's Allegations
This case has drawn wider attention because Justice Sandeep Mehta raised separate allegations concerning the administrative functioning of the Rajasthan High Court. However, existing court records show no direct connection between those allegations and the missing files in Agarwal's case. While references to Justice Mehta's assertions appear in the information presented to the court, no independent verdict has been passed on those claims in this matter. The disappearance of these files underscores the critical need to secure judicial records and make them accessible when required, especially in matters where an accused enjoys protection from arrest while proceedings remain pending. Further details are expected to emerge from the ongoing registry inquiry and court proceedings.
