The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday recorded the Punjab government’s statement that no coercive action would be taken against Trident Group till Monday, after the company moved the court alleging political vendetta behind a late evening raid by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) at its industrial unit.

The matter came up before a division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry.

Appearing for Trident, senior advocate Manisha Gandhi argued that the company, founded by Rajya Sabha member and industrialist Rajinder Gupta, was being targeted after Gupta changed his political allegiance and joined the BJP on April 24, along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs.

Gandhi told the bench that Gupta, now chairman emeritus of the company with no day-to-day operational role, had stepped away from active management in 2022 and was presently in the United States undergoing treatment, including a third open-heart surgery.

She submitted that Trident, a listed company employing around 15,000 people, had been compliant with environmental norms under the Air Act and Water Act and had regularly secured statutory consents. She further told the court that in proceedings before the National Green Tribunal, the company had set up a Rs 5 crore environmental corpus, of which Rs 2.29 crore had already been utilised under the supervision of the PPCB, the Central Pollution Control Board and the district administration.

Referring to the PPCB action on Thursday evening, Gandhi alleged that around 30 officials raided the premises at about 7.30 pm in an “unprecedented move”, restrained movement within the factory premises, collected samples in violation of prescribed procedure and failed to leave one sample with the industry, as required under law.

She argued that the company apprehended that the samples would be declared failed and a closure notice could follow, including possible disconnection of electricity supply.

Seeking court intervention, Gandhi prayed for fresh sampling by the Central Pollution Control Board through an agency outside Punjab, contending that the company had “no faith” in testing within the state. She also sought a direction that no coercive action be taken without notice and an opportunity of hearing, requesting at least 15 days before any adverse step.

The PPCB’s case was presented by senior advocate D S Patwalia, who said it was a routine inspection and described the petition as premature, saying it was founded largely on apprehension. At the same time, Patwalia, on instructions, assured the bench that no coercive steps would be taken against the petitioner company till Monday, and sought time to argue the case on merits.

Recording the statement, the high court directed that no coercive action be taken against Trident till the next hearing on Monday. Notice was also issued in the matter.