D.D.+International+Pvt.+Ltd.+&+Anr.+vs.+Rajesh+Kumar+Agarwal,+Liquidator+of+Divine+Alloys+&+Power+Company+Ltd.+&+Ors.+ +21.09.2023+NCLT+Kolkata+Bench
D.D.+International+Pvt.+Ltd.+&+Anr.+vs.+Rajesh+Kumar+Agarwal,+Liquidator+of+Divine+Alloys+&+Power+Company+Ltd.+&+Ors.+ +21.09.2023+NCLT+Kolkata+Bench
in 640 NCLT
Applications under Section 60(5) read with Section 35 (1) of the Insolvency and
Bankruptcy Code, 2016, along with Rule 11 of the National Company Law
Tribunal Rules 2016
Appearance:
For Applicant: Mr. A. K. Shrivastava, Adv.
Mr. Akash Sharma, Adv.
For Respondent/ Liquidator: Mr. Shaunak Mitra, Adv.
Mr. Rajesh Kr. Agarwal (Liquidator)
ORDER
Per: D. Arvind, Member (Technical)
1. This Court is congregated through hybrid mode.
I.A. (I.B.C.) No. 238/KB/2023
2. This interlocutory application is filed under Section 60(5)(c) read with Section
35 (1) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (for brevity “I&B Code”)
and Regulation 32A and 33 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India
(Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2016 (in short “IBBI Liquidation Process
Regulation”) along with Rule 11 of the National Company Law Tribunal Rules,
2016 (for brevity “NCLT Rules”) by the D.D. International Private Limited
& Anr., (Applicants) seeking the following:
Interim reliefs:
a) Restrain the Liquidator (Respondent) from taking any action or further
action to sell/ liquidate the Corporate Debtor as a whole or its assets in
piecemeal;
b) Restrain the Liquidator from alienating/ utilising the EMD Amount of Rs.
4.255 Crore and Refundable Participation Deposit of Rs. 10 Lakh
deposited by the Applicants which has been purportedly forfeited by the
Liquidator on January 04, 2023;
c) Direct the Respondents to ensure the transfer of Rs. 11.58 Acres of land on
which the DRI Plant is erected to the Corporate Debtor
d) Direct the Respondents to ensure the transfer of land on which the
Corporate Debtor’s factory gate is located to the Corporate Debtor;
e) Direction to exclude piece and parcel of land comprising more or less
around 14.96 acres of land which are purportedly forged documents to be
excluded from the Liquidation assets;
f) Pass such order(s) which this Tribunal mays deem fit and proper.
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Final reliefs:
a) Declare that the sale of the land holding the DRI Plant by the Corporate
Debtor under its erstwhile promoters/ management is a fraudulent
transaction and direct reversal of the said transaction and vesting of the
said Land again with the Corporate Debtor; and
b) Direct the Liquidator to confirm the sale of the Corporate Debtor as a
going concern along with the land holding the DRI Plant, Entry gate and
5.66 acres under the Sale Deeds No. 965 and 966 and fulfil the required
compliance in law to transfer the Corporate Debtor’s ownership to the
Applicants;
Or in the alternate
c) Quash and cancel the E-Auction for sale of the Corporate Debtor as a
going concern held on 29/09/2022 on account of fraud and material
irregularities committed by the Liquidator; and
d) Direct the Liquidator to immediately refund the EMD amount deposited by
the Applicants with their bid;
e) Pass such order(s) which this Tribunal may deem fit and proper.
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Applicant deposited the Earnest Money Deposit (in short “EMD”) to tune
of Rs. 4.225 Crore through RTGS on September 27, 2022, well within the
stipulated time under the Auction Notice and same was intimated to the
Liquidator through Email dated September 27, 2022, annexed as Annexure
“A-4” at Page 81 of the Application.
3.7. That, the Liquidator vide an Email dated September 20, 2022, verified the
bid documents submitted by the Applicants and confirmed the eligibility of
the Applicants for bidding in the E-Auction to be held on September 29,
2022, and for purposes of bidding, the Liquidator supplied the E-Auction
Process Information Document (hereinafter referred as “Process
Documents”), Teaser as well as access to the Virtual Data Room. A copy
of the Email dated September 20, 2022, is annexed as Annexure “A-5”
at Page 98 and a copy of the E-Auction Process Documents is annexed
at Page 99-170 as Annexure “A-6”.
3.8. Further, apart from the aforesaid process documents, the Applicants also
received a teaser containing the details of the Corporate Debtor annexed
as Annexure “A-7” at Page 171 of the Application which inter alia stated
that the Land belonging to the Corporate Debtor is around 38.325 Acres.
3.9. Based on the representation made in the information given in the Process
Documents, the teaser, the virtual data and also the physical inspection of
the site, the applicant participated in the Bidding Process on September 29,
2022 and became successful bidder in the process on September 30,2022
3.10. The applicant paid an earnest money of Rs. 4.255 Crore deposited in the
designated account intimated by the Liquidator in the sale notice dated
September 5, 2022.
3.11. The Liquidator issued a Letter of Intent (in short, “LoI”) dated October
17, 2022, to the successful bidder noting down the facts that D.D.
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4.3. Ld. Counsel for the Applicant further claims that actual land under the
ownership of the Corporate Debtor is lesser than what is claimed by the
Liquidator during the auction process. It is claimed that the Sponge Iron
(DRI) Plant of 200 TDP is located on 11.58 Acres of land which is not in
the name of the Corporate Debtor rather different pieces and parcels of land
comprising 11.58 Acres are in the name of M/s Parasar Coke Private
Limited holding 3.07 Acres of land and rest are in the name of different
people of the village and locality against which money has been paid earlier
by the suspended board but the name was not transferred deliberately by
the Suspended Board by reason of the fact that this project was essentially
a vehicle for siphoning the public fund of the Banks. Further, it is alleged
that the Sale Deed Numbers 965 and 966 comprising 14.96 Acres being
forged deeds must be excluded from the Liquidation Assets and 11.58
Acres of land must be included in the Liquidation Assets along with the
land of entry gate point making the consequential adjustment to the price
of the bid enabling the Applicants to take over the Corporate Debtor as a
going concern.
4.4. The Ld. Counsel for the Applicant further argues that it is the duties and
obligation of the Liquidator as an Insolvency Professional registered under
the provisions of the I&B Code to verify all the assets of the Corporate
Debtor with the concerned authority and to provide the same in the Process
Documents for a fair E-Auction.
4.5. Further, it is alleged that the instances suppressed from the Applicants
were, in fact, fraudulent transactions undertaken in the Corporate Debtors’
affairs by its promoters/ management prior to initiation of the CIRP which
were neither reported by the Liquidator in his capacity as IRP/RP or
Liquidator, nor even by the other Respondents including financial
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claimed that the two parcels of land (05.660 Acres of land) which have
been sold in E-Auction to the Applicant is belonged to them by ownership.
4.10. Further, vide an Email dated December 30, 2022, annexed as Annexure
“A-17” at Pages 380-381 of the Application, the Applicants asked the
Liquidator, regarding the letter sent by M/s SG Multicast Private Limited
and requested to take cognizance regarding that.
4.11. Further, vide an Email dated January 02, 2023, annexed as Annexure “A-
18” at Pages 382-383 of the Application, the Applicant requested the
Liquidator not to forfeit their EMD amount furnished for the E-Auction and
no third-party interest should be created by putting any further auction or
sale notice and informed the Liquidator that they are in the process of filling
application before this Adjudicating Authority for necessary directions.
4.12. Further, vide an Email dated January 04, 2023, annexed as Annexure “A-
19” at Pages 384-389 of the Application, the Liquidator forfeited the
Refundable deposit of Rs. 10 Lakh and the EMD amount of Rs. 4.255 Crore
furnished by the Applicants for the liquidation process as per the Process
Documents.
4.13. The Ld. Counsel, Adv. A. K. Srivastava appeared for the Applicants during
his argument relies upon the judicial pronouncements such as:
a) Sunrise Industries vs. Naren Seth I.A. 947/2022 in CP(IB) -
297/MB/2018:
b) Raj Singhania vs. Chinar Steel Segment Centre Pvt. Ld. Company
Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) 465 of 2022
c) Union Of India vs. Raman Iron Foundry reported in 1974 2 SCC 231
5. Per contra, Reply by the Ld. Counsel for the Liquidator:
5.1. Ld. Counsel, Adv. Shaunak Mitra appeared for the Liquidator claims that
by the virtue of Order dated May 11, 2021, the Liquidation process
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earlier at the time of the due diligence and did not raise any query before
the submission of Bid and date of E-Auction.
5.10. Further, it is contended that the Liquidator responded on November 07,
2022, to the letter dated October 25, 2022, sent by the Applicant, where it
was clearly stated that the document, details, information and deeds related
to the Auction were shared in the Data Room for access of the Applicant to
conduct and do their own independent due diligence. The letter dated
November 07, 2022, is annexed at Page 52-57 of the Reply Affidavit.
5.11. It is further claimed that since reply was given by the liquidator to the letter
dated October 25, 2022, the Applicant further requested vide a letter dated
November 03, 2022, annexed at Page 58 of the Reply Affidavit for an
extension of 30 days of the payment of 1st instalment and the Liquidator
after discussing with the Stakeholders agreed to provide the last extension
for payment of 1st Instalment by 30 days. The Liquidator vide a letter dated
November 08, 2022, intimated that the further extension of 30 days as
sought by the Applicant was allowed by the Stakeholder which would
expire on November 28, 2022, i.e., the due date of 2nd extension of time
for payment of 1st instalment. It was stated in the letter that Applicant fails
to make payment within due date, the amount paid by the Applicants shall
stand forfeited. The letter dated November 08, 2022, is annexed at pages
59-60 of the Reply Affidavit.
5.12. The Ld. Counsel for Liquidator further claims that it has been intimated a
plethora of times, that the Balance Consideration is required to be paid
within 90 days of the issuance of LOI unless, at the rate of 12% per annum
interest shall be added in case of payment made after 30 days in terms of
the Auction Process Documents and also in accordance with Clause 12 of
Schedule I of the IBBI (Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2016.
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5.13. It is further contended that the Liquidator after giving ample opportunities
to the Applicant to make payment, vide a letter dated January 04, 2023,
forfeited the Refundable Deposit and EMD
6. Key Issues:
(a) Whether details relating to ownership of land on which the DRI Plant is
situated in the factory is vital and should be there in the Process
Information Documents or teaser or another preliminary documents.
(b) If answer is in affirmative, whether the Highest and Successful Bidder
can raise an allegation against the Liquidator for supressing and
concealing the information relating to the liquidation after the e-auction
and accordingly can seek the refund of its EMD amount deposited for the
liquidation process which was forfeited by the Liquidator for non-
compliance for timeline/regulations.
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pertaining to only 37.745 Acres of which 5.66 Acres are disputed and the
same was nowhere mentioned in the Process Documents, or any other
documents furnished by the Liquidator.
7.10. In reply, the Ld. Counsel for the Liquidator contends that in the virtual data
room, all the documents pertaining to the intended sale and all possible
information were clearly and sequentially provided and the process
documents clearly envisage that the land having an area of 38.325 Acres
was part of the intended sale process. The title deeds for the land of 38.325
Acres were duly uploaded in the virtual data room. Furthermore, the title
deeds obviously contained full details of the land including the plot
numbers, khata no., Mauza, Deed No. based on which it was easily
ascertainable on basic due diligence being conducted, the location and
status of the said land parcels.
7.11. It is further admitted facts that:
i. The 13th E-Auction Sale Notice was published on September
05, 2022;
ii. Refundable Participation Deposit of Rs. 10 Lakh was deposited
by Applicant on September 09, 2022;
iii. Process Documents and virtual data room access were supplied
to the Applicant by the Liquidator on September 20, 2022;
iv. EMD was deposited by Applicant on September 27, 2022;
v. E-Auction was held on September 29, 2022, and the Applicant
became the highest and successful bidder;
vi. LOI was issued by the Liquidator on September 30, 2022;
vii. The 1st Instalment was fixed to be paid by the Applicant on
October 14, 2022;
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viii. Request for the extension for 15 days of 1st Instalment payment
was made by Liquidator on October 12, 2022;
ix. Allegation made by the Applicant against Liquidator for
deliberately suppressing and concealing the information
regarding DRI Plant on October 25, 2022.
x. Request for the extension granted on October 17, 2022, for the
payment of 1st Instalment to be paid within October 29, 2022;
xi. Further request of extension for payment of 1st Instalment was
made on November 03, 2022, for 30 days;
xii. Liquidator on November 07, 2022, responded to the averment
made by Applicant;
xiii. Further request for an extension was allowed on November 08,
2022, which would expire on November 28, 2022, and failing
to make payment within the due date, the amount paid by the
Applicant shall be forfeited.
xiv. Refundable Deposit and EMD amount were forfeited by the
Liquidator on January 04, 2023.
7.12. Further, it is also admitted fact that the Liquidator shared access to the
virtual data room with the applicant which was accessed by the applicant
for due diligence of the corporate debtor and made arrangements for the
site visit which was done by the applicant. The Clause 6 of the Process
Documents reads as:
“(b) Upon verification of the eligibility of the Process Applicant(s) and also
receipt of Refundable Participating Deposit, the eligible bidder shall be
informed to proceed further with due diligence/ visit site/ physical
verification as per the terms of E-Auction Process Document.’
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“(c) Please not only the Eligible Bidders will gain access to documents,
additional information required for due diligence. Further, if needed, the
site visits for only the eligible bidder may also be coordinated by the
Liquidator.”
7.13. Further, Clause 8 of the Process Documents envisages as:
“(a) The Liquidator shall endeavour to provide necessary assistance for
conduct of due diligence by eligible bidders. The information and
documents shall be provided by the Liquidator in good faith and in
confidential mode.’
“(b) The documents shall be open for inspection at the Office of the
liquidator. Inspection of documents shall be allowed on signing the
Confidentiality Agreement and only for the eligible bidders who submit
their documents along with the Earnest Money Deposit and are found
eligible as per the criteria mentioned in this document. The Bidder(s) may
note that the Liquidator does not guarantee the correctness of any
information, data or documents shared and shall not be responsible or
liable, whatsoever, in any circumstances, in respect of any statement or
omissions contained in the shared data.’
“(c) The intending bidders, prior to submitting their bid, should make
their independent inquiries regarding the title of the property, zone of the
land, dues of local taxes, electricity and water charges, development
charges, maintenance charges, if any…”
7.14. Further, Clause 13 of the Process Document says that:
“(h) … Default in payment of the balance sale consideration and any
appliable GST, if any, on 100% of the bid sum by the Successful Bidder
will result in disqualification of the Successful Bidder including
forfeiture of Earnest Money Deposit and Refundable participation
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Deposit. The Bid option may be put to re-auction or sold to the next
highest Qualified Bidder and the defaulting Successful Bidder shall have
no claim/right in respect of such bid option.”
7.15. We rely upon the decision passed by the Ld. NCLT, Mumbai Bench which
was also upheld by the Hon’ble NCLAT, vide Order dated 04.07.2023,
in the case of Sunrise Industries vs. Naren Seth being I.A. 947/2022 in
CP(IB) – 297/MB/2018 order dated March 02, 2023, reported in
MANU/NC/1538/2023 at para 13 as:
“… It is settled proposition of law that the mistakes in the e-auction
publication would certainly amount to material illegality and
irregularity that vitiates the entire process of auction. As rightly
contended by the Applicant, issuing of corrigendum after
completion of the e-auction serves no purpose and the very object
of issuing corrigendum is frustrated by issuing such corrigendum
after completion of e-auction and such an e-auction has to be set
aside on that score alone.”
(Emphasis Added)
7.16. Further, we rely upon the decision passed by this Tribunal in the Bank of
India vs. Enfield Apparels Limited reported in MANU/NC/5994/2020
where the Tribunal set aside the auction holding that there is a material
irregularity in conducting e-Auction of the ‘Corporate Debtor’ as ‘a Going
Concern’ and directed to hold fresh Auction inviting bids afresh, strictly
adhering to the procedure. The NCLT, Kolkata bench observed that:
“18. Thus, to conclude, the old e-auction is cancelled and set aside.
The proposal of applicant is accepted subject to the condition that
the balance amount of total bid of Rs. 15.50 Crores for the
impugned asset parcel shall be deposited within six weeks from the
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date of receipt of this order failing which the amount of Rs. 3.875
Crores so deposited shall stand forfeited.”
(Emphasis Added)
Under the above facts and circumstances, we now take up the
key issues mentioned above, for appropriate decision.
In our view, the non-disclosure of dispute relating to the land on
which the DRI plant is constructed, in the process information
document, or in the teaser or any other preliminary documents,
is vital and gross irregularity committed by the Liquidator.
Therefore, we are of the view that the applicant is entitled to get
refund of the EMD amount paid as a successful bidder along
with refundable deposit of 10 Lakh.
Having said so, we need to also take into consideration that the
full access was given to the virtual data room which contained
all the details relating to the information of the corporate debtor
including details relating to the land on which DRI plant is
constructed.
Though, the Applicant was aware of the issue relating to said
land while seeking extension couple of time, the applicant raised
only as a concern but never took this as reason to cancel the sale
but only was seeking extension to pay the balance amount.
Therefore, even after knowing fully, the dispute relating to DRI
Plant after complete due diligence, the Applicant was still
pursing to complete the sale.
This has resulted in significant loss of time and efforts on the
part of liquidator and the loss incurred has to be compensated.
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7.17. In view of above discussions and findings we are of the view that the wrong
was done by both parties. Firstly, the Liquidator has not disclosed all
information relating to the land and DRI Plant in the E-Auction Process
Information Document or in teaser, though he has provided the relevant
deeds of land in the virtual data room, which was accessible to the
Applicant. Secondly, the Applicant, before the commencement of the E-
Auction, availed opportunities to verify the documents furnished by the
Liquidator and it is admitted fact that the Applicant has inspected the site
also before the payment of EMD. Further, in terms of forfeiture of the
Earnest Money Deposit and Refundable Participation Deposit furnished by
the Applicant, the Last para of Clause 13(h) of the Process Documents
clearly mentions that: “Default in payment of the balance sale
consideration … the Successful Bidder will result in disqualification of
the Successful Bidder including forfeiture of the Earnest Money Deposit
and Refundable Participation Deposit.”
7.18. The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, in the case of Fateh Chand vs.
Balkishan Das reported in AIR1963SC1405: MANU/SC/0258/1963 laid
down that:
“…in terms with the right to receive from the party who has broken
the contract reasonable compensation and not the right to forfeit
what has already been received by the party aggrieved. There is
however no warrant for the assumption made by some of the High
Courts in India, that s. 74 (the Indian Contract Act, 1872) applies
only to cases where the aggrieved party is seeking to receive some
amount on breach of contract and not to cases where upon breach
of contract an amount received under the contract is sought to be
forfeited. In our judgment the expression "the contract contains any
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7.20. Moreover, in the case of Nafe Singh vs. Sanjay Gupta reported in
MANU/DE/5431/2018, the Hon’ble Delhi High Court held that:
“6. Accordingly, I do not find any fault with the impugned judgment
by which the appellant/defendant has been directed to refund the
amount of earnest money received by the appellant/defendant
under the subject agreement to sell. This is because in law, a mere
breach of contract does not entitle a person to damages and the
entitlement to damages is only if loss is pleaded and proved to have
been caused on account of the breach of contract to the aggrieved
party/seller.”
(Emphasis Added)
7.21. Further, in MBL Infrastructure Limited vs. Rites Limited reported in AIR
2020 Cal 155: MANU/WB/0306/2020 the Hon’ble High Court at Calcutta
held that:
“31. A balance has to be stuck in every case, when the assessment
of the quantum becomes a difficult or an impossible task; to allow
the forfeiture in principle, but to limit the quantum so as not to
make it punitive or extortionist. Indeed, there is always an element
of approximation and guesswork involved in assessing the
quantum of damages even after receipt of the best evidence
possible. After all, the court is trying to put a person in the position
as if the breach had not happened, though the breach has, in fact,
happened.’
“32. Considering the nature of the contract in this case and the value
of the work, the offer made by the appellant for Rs. 2 lakh to be
forfeited in either case appears to be reasonable and appropriate.
Indeed, the quantum of loss that may have been suffered by the
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respondents in either case may not be Rs. 2 lakh; but since the
appellant has fairly offered that such should be the amount that the
forfeiture should be restricted to, this court perceives a sum of Rs. 2
lakh in either case to be appropriate compensation for the
respondents having received the applications, processed the same
and proceeded therewith for some time before discovering the non-
disclosure and concealment of material facts.’
“33. Accordingly, the appeals are allowed by setting aside the
judgment and order impugned dated December 14, 2017. APO 377
of 2018 and APO 378 of 2018 succeed. The relevant writ petitions,
WP 1645 of 2010 and WP 1649 of 2010, are allowed by setting aside
the forfeiture attempted to be effected by the respondents herein in
excess of Rs. 2 lakh in either case. The balance amount should be
refunded to the writ petitioner-appellants within eight weeks of this
order, failing which such amount will carry interest at the rate of six
per cent per annum from November 1, 2009 till the payment.”
(Emphasis Added)
7.22. Keeping in view of the above discussions, in the interest of justice, we
direct the Liquidator of Divine Alloys & Power Company Limited
(Corporate Debtor) to refund 50% of the forfeited EMD amount to the
Applicant within 30 days from the pronouncement of this Order, while
the forfeiture of rest 50% of EMD amount shall stand upheld. Further,
the amount of Rs. 10 Lakh, paid in terms of Refundable Participation
Deposit by the Applicant shall remain forfeited for the adjustment
against the loss caused to the Corporate Debtor along with the
stakeholders having interest in this Auction and for prejudicing the
Liquidation Process due to the failure of the Applicant to comply with
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having a registered sale deed of this land in the name of Corporate Debtor.
Ld. Counsel appearing for the liquidator has also stated that a charge has
been created in favour of bankers over this land.’
“3. In view the above position, we deem it appropriate to issue notice to
the Liquidator, who will file reply within two weeks. He has stated that he
has no objection for keeping 4.05 Acres of land and 1.61 Acres of land out
of sale notice issued by him for the time being.’
“4. Keeping in view of the above position, till the next of hearing and on
the basis of statement made by liquidator status quo with regard to piece
of land measuring 4.05 acres in para 5.9 and 1.61 acres mentioned in para
5.10 shall be maintained.”
12. In view of the said order, we are not passing any interim relief with regard to I.A.
(IBC) 435/KB/2023. List the matter on 27/ 09/ 2023 for final hearing and
disposal.
13. Certified copy of this order may be issued by the Registry, if applied for, upon
compliance of all requisite formalities.
Bose, R. K. [LRA]
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