SpiceJet Loses, To Cough Up Rs 380 Crore To Kalanithi Maran

NEW DELHI, (IANS) – In a setback for SpiceJet, the Delhi High Court has ordered the airline to pay Rs 380 crore to Kalanithi Maran of KAL Airways and asked it to submit an affidavit of assets within four weeks.

The high court order originates from a long-running battle between the Maran family and the current promoter, Ajay Singh, and SpiceJet, over contractual obligations.

The high court’s order came after the Supreme Court’s February 13 order, directing SpiceJet to pay Rs 75 crore within three months to KAL Airways, controlled by Kalanithi Maran, the former promoter of SpiceJet. However, the airline failed to do so.

The judge said: “Since the judgment debtor had failed to pay an amount of Rs 75 crore to decree-holder, hence in terms of para 15(ii) of the order dated 13.02.2023 of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, there is no other alternative except to call upon the judgment debtors to deposit the entire outstanding amount qua interest forthwith, thus is so directed. Affidavit of assets will also be filed within four weeks from today.”

The high court, in its May 29 order, said: “The learned senior counsel for the decree-holder submits an amount of Rs 75 crore has not been deposited as yet and hence the interest liability which was Rs 362.49 crore as noted in para 11 of the order dated 13.02.2023 has since increased to Rs 380 crore and thus the decree-holder insists for compliance of order dated 13.02.2023.”