In the matter of PARORCH DEVELOPERS LLP
- CitationCP (IB) No.539/MB/2024
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
The Adjudicating Authority must, on an application under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, be satisfied that a financial debt has been disbursed and that a default in its repayment has occurred; where both are established, the application must be admitted if it is otherwise complete. The absence of a written financial contract does not preclude the establishment of a financial debt under Section 5(8) of the Code, provided there is sufficient evidence of disbursement and of the parties' intent; a formal written agreement is not a precondition for proving such debt. Bank statements showing disbursements to the corporate debtor, a ledger account in the financial creditor's books, and a written acknowledgement of liability by the corporate debtor may together establish the factum of disbursement of financial debt and its acknowledgement by the debtor. Where the corporate debtor has been given a demand notice requiring repayment within a stipulated period, and has failed to repay by the stipulated date, the date of default is the day following expiry of that period, counted from the date of receipt of the notice where the notice required payment within a period from receipt.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
RUTURAJ V. BANKAR OfAfidcveo cNaote., H 5ig. h1 C0oAu.r t2, -Bdo mFblaoyor, Rhy5t9h,m F oHrobuesse S, trKeaelta, gKhaoldaa GBhuoilddain,g, Fort, Mumbai – 400 001. PEhmoaneil :n a o d : v r9u1t u + ra 9 ]b 8 a 6 n 0 k 4 ar 3 a 4 ;g 2 m 4 a 2 il. com BEFORE THE NATIONAL COMPANY LAW TRIBUNAL BENCH AT MUMBAI CP (IB) No. 539/MB/2024 ATHENA CONSTRUCTIONP RIVATE LIMITED. ..Financial Creditor
Versus
M/S PARORCHD EVELOPERS LLP Corporate Debtor
To, The Registrar, The National Company Law Tribunal Mumbai Bench.
Sir. We are concernedf or our clients the Applicant in the captionedm atter. Be pleasedt O provide a Freec ertified Copyo f the in the captionedm atter. Dated0 8th May 2025 Providec ertified copy To Sairaj Matwankar. Datedt his 09th May 2025
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IN THE NATIONALC OMPANY LAW TRIBUNALM UMBAI BENCH-II CP (IB) No. 539/MB/2024 [UnderS ection7 of the Insolvency andB ankruptcyC ode,2 016 readw ith Rule 4 of the Insolvency andB ankruptcy( Application to Adjudicating Authority) Rules,2 016]
IN THE MATTER OF: ATHENA CONSTRUCTIONP RIVATE LIMITED [GIN: L45200MH201 IPLC21 5562] 203, Shyam Kamal, A Wing Tejpal Road, Ville Parle (East), Mumbai - 400051 Maharashtra. ..Financial Creditor Vs. M/S PARORCHD EVELOPERSL LP Shop No. 15 Anuradhan ext to Fire Brigade Ida Bridge,Andheri (West) Mumbai- 400058 Maharashtra.
...Corporate Debtor Pronounced: 08.05.2025
CORAM : HON’BLE SHRI ASHISH KALIA, MEMBER (JUDICIAL) HON’BLE SHRI SANJIV DUTT, MEMBER (TECHNICAL)
Appearances: Hybrid Financial Creditor: Adv. Rohit Gupta Corporate Debtor: None
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IN THE NATIONAL COMPANYL AW TRIBUNAL MUMBAI BENCH-II CP (IB) No. 539/MB/2024 W ORDER [PER: SANJIV Dun, MEMBER (TECHNICAL)] 1. BACKGROUND
1.1This Application bearing C.P.(IB) No,539MB/2024 was filed by Athena Constructions Limited, the Financial Creditor on 14.06.2024 under Section
7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as “the Code”) read with Rule 4 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Application to AdjudicatingA uthority) Rules, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as “the AAA Rules”) through its Director and Authorised Representative,M r. Ravikant Ramgopal Rathi for initiating Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (hereinafter referred to as “CIRP”) in respect of Parorch Developers LLP the Corporate Debtor. 1.2The total amount cjaimed to be in default, as per Part-IV of the Application, is Rs. 17,87,42,416/- (Seventeen Crore Eighty-SevenL akhs Forty-Two Thousand Four Hundred and Sixteen Rupees) in respect of the Inter Corporate Loan advanced to the Corporate Debtor by the Financial Credjtor during the period from March, 2022 to October, 2022. 1.3 Despite duly acknowledging and admitting its liability towards the outstanding debt, the Corporate Debtor failed to discharge the same. Consequently,t he FinancialC reditor has approachedt his Tribunal, seeking initiation of CIRP against the Corporate Debtor. 2. AVERMENTS OF FINANCIALC REDITOR 2.1 During January, 2022, Mr. Girish Amonker, Director of M/s Amonker Trading Private Limited (oneo f the partners of the Corporate Debto(r) whoe Las aB B &b = @:9 f IN THE NATIONAL COMPANYL AW TRIBUNAL MUMBAI BENCH-II CP (IB) No. 539/MB/2024 long-standing association with the directors of the FinancialC reditor, approached the Financial Creditor for financial assistance as the Corporate Debtor was facing financial constraints and was unable to proceed with the redevelopment of a Slum RehabilitationA uthority (SRA) project, namely “Trinity Tower” located at Adi ShankaracharyaR oad, Powai, Mumbai 400076. 2.2The FinancialC reditor agreed to provide short-term financial assistance in the form of an Inter-Corporate Loan amounting to Rs.12,00,00,000/- (Twelve Crore Rupees) to the Corporate Debtor at an interest rate of 24% per annum for a tenure of six months.
Accordingly,t he Financial Creditor disbursedt he InterC orporate Loan to the tune of Rs. 11,53,00,000/-t o the Corporate Debtor from March, 2022 to October, 2022 in various tranches. 2.3The said entries have been reflected in the bank statements of the Financial Creditor and also been recorded in the ledger accountso f the Corporate Debtor in the books of the FinancialC reditor. However, the Corporate Debtor defaulted in its repayment after a period of six months on 13.04.2023 2.4Thereafter, upon the request of the Corporate Debtor, the Financial Creditor granted an extensIono f five months till 13.09.2023.H owever, despite the extension, the said amount remained unpaid. In these circumstances, the Financial Creditor, vide letter dated 29.09.2023, called upon the Corporate Debtor to repay the inter-corporate loan along with interest at the rate of 24% per annum within a period of 15 days failing which the Financial Creditor would be constrainedt o initiate legal proceedingsa gainst the $ a alib> gd:9 f IN THE NATIONAL COMPANYL AW TRIBUNAL MUMBAI BENCH-II CP (IB) No. 539/MB/2024 Corporate Debtor.
However, the amount due still remained unpaid by the Corporate Debtor. 2.5The Corporate Debtor, vide its letter dated 06.12.2023,a cknowledgedi ts liability towards the Inter Corporate Loan availed from the Financial Creditor. In the said letter, the Corporate Debtor stated that once the project development gained momentum and agreements were executed with individual flat purchasers,i t would result in an inflow of funds, enabling repayment of the Inter Corporate Loan to the FinancialC reditor. The Corporate Debtor, therefore, requested the Financial Creditor to grant additional time for repayment of the loan amount along with interest. However, no paymentsw ere made at all by the Corporate Debtor. Thus, present Application has been filed by the FinancialC reditor for initiating CIRP in respect of the Corporate Debtor. 2.6 If the loan is considered a fixed-term loan, the date of default is 13.09.2023. However, a demand notice dated 29.09.2023w as issued, granting 15 days to repay the debt, which was received by the Corporate Debtor on 03.10.2023. Since no payment was made within the stipulated period, the date of default has been considereda s 19,10.2023.
The Corporate Debtor has acknowledgedt he outstandingI nter Corporate Loan towards the FinancialC reditor under the head 'UnsecuredL oans’ in its audited financial statementsf or the FY 2021-22 3. CONTENTIONSO F CORPORATED EBTOR 3.1 It is observed from the record that, despite multiple opportunities granted by this Tribunal, the (';orporate Debtor failed to file its reply. On 20.12.2024, this Tribunal granted a final opportunityt o the CorporateDebtor to g IN THE NATIONAL COMPANYL AW TRIBUNAL MUMBAI BENCH-II CP (IB) No. 539/MB/2024 reply, failing which the right to file reply would be closed. The matter was then listed for 14.02.2025
3.2 On 14.02.2025,t he Corporate Debtor apprised the bench that matter was likely to be settled and sought a short accommodation. However, on 19.03.2025, the Counsel for the Corporate Debtor sought time to file an Applicationf or condonationo f delay in filing the reply. This request was allowed by the Bench with a direction to file the said Application within three weeks. Despite thIs, on the next date of hearing, the Corporate Debtor neither filed any Application for condonation of delay nor furnished its reply. Further, the Corporate Debtor failed to appear before the Tribunal, either in person or through an authorised representative,t o make oral or written submissions.C onsequently,t his Bench proceeded to hear the arguments advanced by the Learned Counsel for the Financial Creditor on merits and orders were reserved 3.3 Accordingly, in the absence of any pleadings or response from the Corporate Debtor, the present Application is being disposed of based on the pleadings and evidencep laced on record by the Financial Creditor. 4. ANALYSISA ND FINDINGS 4.1 Upon due considerationo f the pleadings along with the materials available on record and hearing the Ld.
Counsel for the FinancialC reditor, our findings in the matter are as under: - 4.2 As stated above, despite multiple opportunitiesg ranted by this Adjudicating Authority, the Corporate Debtor failed to file its reply or present any defence. Consequently, the matter was heard based on the pleadings in the Application and the arguments advanced by the Ld. Counsel for the Finan;ial C \$fANy a B IN THE NATIONAL COMPANYL AW TRIBUNAL MUMBAI BENCH-II CP (IB) No. 539/MB/2024 4.3The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Innoventive IndustriesL td. vs. /C/C/ Bank (2018) 7 SCC 407, has laid down the guiding principles for admitting or rejecting an Applicationf iled under Section 7 of the Code. It was held that in order to admit an Application,t he Adjudicating Authority must be satisfied that a default in respect of a financial debt has occurred. The moment the AdjudicatingA uthority is satisfied that a default has occurred, the Application must be admitted unless it is incomplete. Thus, the AdjudicatingA uthority is required to examine the existence of financial debt, the disbursemenot f such debt and the occurrenceo f default in repayment thereof.
4.4In light of the foregoing legal position, we now proceed to examine the facts of the present case. As per the FinancialC reditor, in January 2022, Mr. Girish Amonker, Director of M/s AmonkerT rading Private Limited (a partner of the Corporate Debtor)? approachedt he FinancialC reditor and sought short-term financial assistance in the form of an Inter-Corporate Loan of Rs.12,00,00,000/-a t an interest rate of 24% per annum for a period of six months and an amount of Rs.11,53,00,000/- was accordingly disbursed by the Financial Creditor. However, no formal inter-corporate loan agreement or written financial contract has been placed on record. Thus, the first issue for determination is whether in the absence of a written agreement containing the terms and conditions of lending money to the Corporate Debtor, the loan transactions between the parties can be termed as 'financial debt’ within the meaning of Section 5(8) of the Code. Regulation 8(2) of CIRP Regulations specifies a “financialc ontract” as one of the basis for proving the existence of debt due to a FinancialC reditor. However, the Code has neither defined nor used the expression “financial contract”.
Further,neither Section 7j 'hHY f
IN THE NATIONAL COMPANYL AW TRIBUNAL MUMBAI BENCH-II CP (IB) No. 539/MB/2024 nor any provision of the AAA Rules and the CIRP Regulationsm akes it mandatory that the existence of financial debt has to be proved only by means of a written financial contract. Furthermore,t he Hon’ble NCLAT, in Prayag Polytech Pvt. Ltd. vs. Gem Batteries Pvt. Ltd. [2019 SCC OnLine NCLAT 1 13 1]
and Satish Balan I/s. Mrs. Neeta Navin Nagda & Anr. [CA(AT)(Ins.)N o. 718 of 2023], has held that the absence of a written agreement does not preclude the establishment of a financial debt, provided there is sufficient evidenceo f disbursemenat nd intent. Accordingly,w e are of the view that a formal written contract is not a precondition for proving the existence of a financial debt under the Code. 4.5 It is now proposed to examine the documentsa nd records furnished by the Financial Creditor in order to ascertain whether these documents bring out the existence of financial debt. Under Section 5(8) of the Code, “financiald ebt” means a debt along with interest, if any, which is disbursed against the consideration for the time value of money. It is noticed that the Financial Creditor has placed on record copies of statementso f bank accountsa nd ledger statement of the Corporate Debtor. A perusal of bank statements of the Financial Creditor' maintained with the HDFC bank (Vile Parle, Mumbai, branch), clearly reveals debits by way of disbursemento f funds to the bank account of the Corporate Debtor either through RTGS, NEFT or by cheque from time to time from 14.03.2022 to 12.10.2022. These disbursementso f loan from time to time were even acknowledgedb y the Corporate Debtor vide its letter dated 06.12.2023. 4.6 Similarly,a perusal of Ledger Account of the Corporate Debtor maintained separatelyi n the books of account of the FinancialC reditolreve \?ANY
+ IN THE NATIONAL COMPANYL AW TRIBUNAL MUMBAI BENCH-11 CP (IB) No. 539/MB/2024 first disbursemenot f Rs.50,00,000/- made on 14.03.2022, followed by multiple other instalments.A s on 26.03.2024,t he total outstandinga mount stood at Rs.17,87,42,416/-,w hich included interest of Rs.6,34,42,416/-.H ence, the factum of disbursal of financial debt by the Financial Creditor to the Corporate Debtor also stands proven on record. 4.7 Having ascertained the factum of 'financial debt’ owed by the Corporate Debtor to the FinancialC reditor, the next issue for adjudicationis with regard to the occurrenceo f default which is the sine qua non for admitting an application under Section 7 of the Code. In Part-IV of the Application,t he Financial Creditor has stated that the loan was to be repaid within six months from disbursement. Since the last disbursemento f Rs.24,00,000/-w as made on 12.10.2022,t he repayment was due by 12.04.2023a nd non-paymento f said loan within 6 months constituted the first event of default on 13.04.2023. 4.8 It is also observed that the FinancialC reditor issued a demand letter dated 29.09.2023,c alling upon the Corporate Debtor to repay the loan with interest at 24% per annum within 15 days. The Corporate Debtor, in its reply dated 06.12.2023,d id not dispute the disbursemenot f funds or its liability. Rather, it acknowledgedt he liability and requested for additional time for repayment. This letter further confirms that both parties were fully aware of the terms of the loan, including its tenure, interest rate and repayment timeline thus establishingt hat even in the absence of a written agreement, the transaction meets the essentials of 'financial debt’ under the Code. 4.9 Consideringt he fact that the Demand Notice dated 29.09.2023w as received by the Corporate E)ebtor on 03.10.2023 and the Corporate Debtor failed to repay the amount by the stipulated date of 18.10.2023
+ IN THE NATIONAL COMPANYL AW TRIBUNAL MUMBAI BENCH-II CP (IB) No. 539/MB/2024 receipt of notice), thus, the date of default has correctly been determineda s 19.10.2023i n Part-IV of the Application. This default is further corroboratedb y the record of default issued by the InformationU tility (NeSL) in Form D. Further, no evidenceh as been placed on record to demonstrate that the amount claimed by the FinancialC reditor to be in default has already been paid and there is no amount due and payable to the FinancialC reditor as on the date of filing the Application. In light of the Corporate Debtor’s admission of liability in its letter dated 06.12.2023 and further in its balance sheet F.Y.2021-22,t his Bench is of the view that the Corporate Debtor has acknowledged and admitted its liability towards the outstandingf inancial debt more than Rs.1,00,00,000/-a s prescribedu nder the Code. 4.10 From the above discussion, it clearly emerges that the financial debt, amountingt o more than Rs.1,00,00,000/-( One Crore Rupees), which is the minimumt hreshold prescribed under Section 4(1) of the Code, is due and payable to the Financial Creditor by the Corporate Debtor who has committed default in repayment thereof. Hence, the twin ingredientso f debt and default for triggering CIRP against the Corporate Debtor stand established. 4.11 The FinancialC reditor has proposed the name of Mr. Ritesh R. Mahajan to be appointed as the Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) in respect of the Corporate Debtor. The proposed IRP has furnished his written consent in Form 2 dated 07.06.2024, as mandated under Rule 9(1 ) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Application to AdjudicatingA uthority) Rules, 2016 and has certified that there are no disciplinary proceedings pending against him. Therefore,t his Bench finds that the requirementso f Section 7(5)(a) of the IN THE NATIONAL COMPANYL AW TRIBUNAL MUMBAI BENCH-II CP (IB) No. 539/MB/2024 W Code have been duly satisfied. Therefore,w e are of the considered view that the present Application is fit for admission under Section 7 of the Code. ORDER
This Applicationb earing C.P. (IB) No.539/2024 filed under Section 7 of the Code by Athena Constructions Limited, the Financial Creditor for initiating CIRP in respect of Parorch Developers LLP, the Corporate Debtor, is admitted.
We further declare moratorium under Section 14 of the Code with consequential directions as mentioned below:-
1 We prohibit- a. the institution of suits or continuation of pending suits or proceedings against the Corporate Debtor including execution of any judgment, decree or order in any court of law, tribunal, arbitration panel or other authority; b. transferring, encumbering,a lienating or disposing of by the Corporate Debtor of any of its assets or any legal right or beneficial interest therein; c. any action to foreclose, recover or enforce any security interest created by the Corporate Debtor in respect of its property including any action under the Securitisationa nd Reconstruction of FinancialA ssets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002; d. the recovery of any property by an owner or lessor where such property is occupied by or in possessionof the Co Debtor
IN THE NATIONAL COMPANYL AW TRIBUNAL MUMBAI BENCH-II CP (IB) No. 539/MB/2024 4 That the supply of essential goods or services to the Corporate Debtor, if continuing, shall not be terminated or suspendedo r interrupted during the moratorium period.
3 That the order of moratorium shall have effect from the date of this order till the completion of the CIRP or until this Tribunal approves the resolution plan under Section 31(1) of the Code or passes an order for the liquidation of the Corporate Debtor under Section 33 thereof, as the case may be.
4 That the public announcemento f the CIRP shall be made in immediatelya s specified under Section 13 of the Code readw ith Regulation 6 of the IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons)R egulations,2 016 and other Rules and Regulationsm ade thereunder.
5 That this Bench hereby appoints Mr. Ritesh R Mahajan a registered Insolvency Professional having Registration Number IBBI/IPA- 002/IP-N00048/2017-18/1 0132; valid Authorisation for Assignment up to 31.12.2025a nd e-mail address riteshmahajancs@gmail.comas the IRP to carry out the functions under the Code.
6 That the fee payable to IRP/RP shall be in accordancew ith such Regulations/Circulars/ Directions as may be issued by the IBBI.
7 That during the CIRP Period, the management of the Corporate Debtor shall vest in the IRP or, as the case may be, the RP in terms of Section 17 or Section 25, as the case may be, of th
IN THE NATIONAL COMPANYL AW TRIBUNAL MUMBAI BENCH-II CP (IB) No. 539/MB/2024 managers of the Corporate Debtor is directed to provide effective assistance to the IRP as and when he takes charge of the assets and management of the Corporate Debtor. The officers and managers of the Corporate Debtor shall provide all documentsi n their possession and furnish every information in their knowledge to the IRP/RP within a period of one week from the date of receipt of this Order and shall not commit any offence punishable under Chapter VII of Part II of the Code. Coercive steps will follow against them under the provisions of the Code read with Rule 11 of the NCLT Rules for any violation of law.
8 Thatt he IRP/IP shall submit to this Tribunal periodical reports with regard to the progress of the CIRP in respect of the Corporate Debtor.
9 In exercise of the powers under Rule 1 1 of the NCLT Rules, 2016, the FinancialC reditor is directed to deposit a sum of Rs.5,00,000/-( Five Lakh Rupees) with the IRP to meet the initial CIRP cost arising out of issuing public notice and inviting claims, etc. The amount so deposited shall be interim finance and paid back to the FinancialC reditor on priority upon the funds becoming available with IRP/RP from the Committee of Creditors (CoC). The expenses incurred by IRP out of this fund are subject to approval by the CoC.
10 A copy of this Order be sent to the Registrar of Companies, Maharashtra,M umbai for updating the Master Data of the Corporate Debtor t.\ t,PAN
IN THE NATIONAL COMPANYL AW TRIBUNAL MUMBAI BENCH-II CP (IB) No. 539/MB/2024
11 A copy of the Order shall also be forwarded to the IBBI for record and dissemination on their website.
12 The Registry is directed to immediately communicate this Order to the Financial Creditor, the Corporate Debtor and the IRP by way of Speed Posta nd e-mail
13 Compliance report of the order by Designated Registrar is to be submitted today. Sd/- Sd/- SANJIV DUTT ASHISH KALIA MEMBER (TECHNICAL) MEMBER (JUDICIAL) //LRA-Deepa//
) C Co e p r y ti I f s7 ie s/u d 3e d/ T -b.fr r e& u e e go f C c o o p s y e PJ \@"ib DepuU/ RegistraFA NaBanalC ompanyL aw Tribunal Mumbai Bench
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