John Elkann, the prominent chairman of Stellantis and Ferrari, has recently encountered a setback in his ongoing legal matters. A judge in Turin, Giovanna De Maria, has denied a request for community service made by Elkann's defense team in relation to an investigation into the inheritance of his grandmother, Marella Caracciolo. This ruling effectively continues the traditional criminal proceedings against Elkann as the court previously rejected a request for the case to be dismissed. Furthermore, both Elkann and his family's accountant, Gianluca Ferrero, were subjected to compulsory charges based on the prosecutor's directives from last December.

The legal troubles stem from an investigation that scrutinizes a substantial tax payment made by Elkann and his siblings, amounting to approximately 183 million euros, to the Italian tax agency. This payment was made to resolve outstanding tax issues and seemingly demonstrated the family's effort to settle their financial obligations. Notably, the prosecution had been supportive of Elkann's request for community service, suggesting a potential leniency based on the substantial tax payments made, which the defense hoped would influence the outcome favorably.

However, the ruling against community service indicates that the case will not be dismissed, maintaining the pressure on Elkann and complicating the legal landscape as the criminal proceedings continue. This development holds significant implications not only for Elkann's personal and professional reputation but also for Stellantis and Ferrari as both companies navigate the challenges presented by this public scrutiny and the ongoing legal scrutiny surrounding their chairman's financial dealings.