On 31st January 2019, Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani won the long pending Portland Cement Zambia case. The case was won at the Court of Appeal, the second court where the case was established. Dr. Rajan Mahtani is a noted businessman and philanthropist in Zambia with numerous successful business ventures, including but not limited to Mahtani Group of Companies and Finsbury Investments. He is also the legal owner of the Portland Cement Zambia factory which was declared at the Court of Appeal. Before the Court of Appeal, the case established at the Lusaka High Court almost a decade back. Dr. Rajan Mahtani had all the evidences and testimonials to support his claim and despite that, justice Nkonde from the Lusaka High Court gave a controversial judgement. According to this judgement, Ventriglias were only shareholders of the Zambezi Portland Cement. After this controversial decision, Dr. Rajan Mahtani approached the Court of Appeal.
The judge at the Court of Appeal was justice Mwinde who gave the final decision on the Portland Cement Zambia on 31st January 2019. According to this judgement, Dr. Rajan Mahtani owned Finsbury Investments held 58 percent shares at the factory and was the majority shareholder of the Portland Cement Zambia factory. On the other hand, Ventriglias owned Ital Terrazzo Limited holds just 42 percent shares at the factory and is the minority shareholder without any legal ownership. Based on this judgement it is confirmed that Dr. Rajan Mahtani is the actual owner of the factory. This decision from the Court of Appeal also aligned with the original shareholders agreement established in the year 2007.
While giving the decision, justice Mwinde from the Court of Appeal also said that the judge below him was wrong in declaring Ventriglias as the only shareholders of the Zambezi Portland Cement as this decision was misdirected and without any evidence.