NCLAT (2024.04.04) in Ram Bhaj Jain & Anr. Vs. Tarun Batra & Anr. . [(2024) ibclaw.in 211 NCLAT, Comp. App. (AT) (Ins.) No. 936 of 2022] held that;
What has been emphasized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court is that ingredients of Section 43, 45 and 66 are different and Resolution Professional is expected to keep such requirement in view while making motion to the Adjudicating Authority.
In so far as, the combined application is concerned, the decision in the case of GVR Consulting Services Pvt. Ltd. (Supra) is very much applicable to the present facts and circumstances of the case because the application has been filed giving details under separate heads of the preferential, undervalued and fraudulent transactions determined by the Appellants.
Excerpts of the order;
This appeal is filed by Ram Bhaj Jain & Ram Niwas (Suspended Directors of M/s Shri Vardhman Rice Mills Pvt. Ltd./Corporate Debtor) to assail the validity of the impugned order dated 20.06.2022, passed by the Adjudicating Authority (National Company Law Tribunal, New Delhi, Bench IV) by which I.A. No. 2445/(ND)/2020 filed by Respondent No. 1 (Tarun Batra/Resolution Professional of the Corporate Debtor) under Sections 25(2)(j), 43, 45, 66 and 235A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (in short ‘Code’) has been allowed with a direction that “(a) the Respondents except Respondent No. 6 are hereby directed to pay the aforementioned amounts as explained in para 5, 6 and 7 to the Corporate Debtor within 30 days from the date of pronouncement of this order (b) the Applicant is hereby directed to initiate penal proceedings as per law against the suspended directors and other parties”.
# 2. In brief, CP (IB) No. 241/ND/2019 was filed under Section 9 of the Code by M/s Bhupindra Agro Pvt. Ltd. (Operational Creditor) against M/s Shri Vardhman Rice Mills Pvt. Ltd. (Corporate Debtor). It was admitted on 04.12.2019 and Vikas Garg was appointed as the Interim Resolution Professional (in short ‘IRP’), however, in the first meeting of the Committee of Creditors (CoC) held on 15.01.2020 Tarun Batra (Respondent No. 1) was appointed as Resolution Professional (RP) and his appointment was approved by the Adjudicating Authority on 24.01.2020. During the insolvency process, the total admitted claim was Rs. 2351.97 Lakhs including claim of the financial creditors of Rs. 2277.80 Lakh and claim of the Operational Creditor of Rs. 74.17 Lakhs.
# 3. The CoC in its second meeting held on 14.02.2020 appointed A.K.G & Associates for carrying out the transaction audit for the period from 01.04.2017 to 04.12.2019 (CIRP Commencement date). The transaction auditor presented the final transaction audit report to the CoC in its 3rd meeting held on 15.05.2020 which was shared with the present applicants for their comments. Since, final transaction audit report dated 20.05.2020 reported a large number of irregularities in the conduct and management of the business/ affairs of the Corporate Debtor including transactions which qualify as preferential transactions, undervalued transactions and fraudulent transactions, therefore, the RP filed an application bearing 2445 of 2020 under Sections 25(2)(j), 43, 45, 66 and 235A of the Code. In the said application, the RP gave the details of the preferential transactions, undervalued transactions and fraudulent transactions in separate heads in which Para 20 which deals with the preferential transactions, Para 27 deals with undervalued transactions and Para 34 deals with the fraudulent transactions which are reproduced as under:-
“20. That the party wise detail of Preferential Transactions under Section 43 is as per detail given in table hereunder:-
27. That the party wise detail of Undervalue Transactions under section 45 is as per detail given in table hereunder:-
34. That the party wise detail of Fraudulent Transactions under section 66 is as per detail given in table hereunder:-
# 4. The summary of avoidance transactions is mentioned in para 42 which is reproduced as under:-
“42. The summary of avoidance transactions under this application is as per detail given below:-
# 5. Notice in the application was issued on 24.07.2020 and the said order read as under:--
“CA No. 2445 of 2020 application filed under Section 25(j) and their provisions of the Code with respect to the preferential transactions by the Corporate Debtor. Issue notice to Respondent No. 1 to 11.
Let the service be completed through all possible modes and service affidavit be filed. List on 01.09.2020”
# 6. On 01.09.2020 the following order was passed:-
“I.A. No. 2445/2020: Application filed by RP. Learned Counsel for Respondent No. 6 states that reply has been filed and copy received by applicant. As per service affidavit filed on 20.08.2020 and 25.09.2020 alongwith the proof of service, service of Respondents No. 1 to 5 and 9 to 11 is complete in person or through counsel.
Learned Counsel for the Applicant states that with respect to Respondent No. 7 and 8 seeks one more opportunity to endeavour to serve them. Rejoinder, if any, to the reply to respondent no. 6 within ten days. None appears for R1 to R5 and 9 to 11. Hence, these respondents are proceeded ex-pare. List on 27.10.2020.”
# 7. In view of the aforesaid order, the present applicants, who are arrayed as Respondent No. 1 and 2, were proceeded against ex-parte.
# 8. On 23.11.2020 the following order was passed:-
“Mr. Rajeev Gupta, Learned Counsel states that he has been instructed to appear for the Respondent No. 1 and 2. Respondent No. 1 and 2 is already proceeded ex-parte and makes oral request that the said order be set aside and respondents no. 1 and 2 be allowed to file their defence. The ex-pare order against the Respondent No. 1 and 2 is set aside. Let the copy of application be served through email during the course of the day. Reply be filed within one week thereafter, with copy in advance to other side. List on 24.12.2020”
# 9. In terms of the aforesaid order, the ex-parte against the present applicants (R1 and R2) was set aside and time was granted them to file reply.
# 10. On 24.12.2020 the following order was passed:-
“Learned Counsel for the Respondents No. 1 and 2 states that reply could not be filed in compliance of last order since one of the family members of the respondent had expired due to Covid-19 infection.
Let reply be filed within two weeks, with copy in advance to the other side. List on 19.02.2021”
# 11. As per the above order, the present applicants (R1 and 2) did not file their reply because of some reason, therefore, again time was granted to file the same.
# 12. On 19.02.2021 the following order was passed:-
“I.A No. 2445 of 2020: Application filed by the RP under Section 44 with respect to respondents no. 1 and 2. Vide order dated 23.11.2020, Respondents No. 1 and 2 were given chance to file reply but the same is not filed and today, learned counsel seeks further time on the ground that OTS proposal is sent to applicant. Be that as it may. Right to file reply by Respondent No. 1 and 2 is closed.
The only reply which is on record is of respondent no. 6. RP states that they have filed rejoinder. Pleadings are complete. List for hearing on 16.03.2021. no adjournment will be granted.”
# 13. Since, the time granted for filing the reply was not availed, therefore, right to file reply was closed.
# 14. On 16.03.2021 the following order was passed:-
“This is an application filed by RP under Section 43 and 66. Though the Respondent No. 1 and 2 have not filed reply and they have been proceeded ex-pare. Today Mr. Rajeev Gupta, Learned Counsel for the Respondent No. 1 and 2, the ex-directors makes a statement that in the 8th CoC meeting they have forwarded an OTS proposal in pursuance of the Resolution plan submitted by the R1 And R2/Ex-management to the sole CoC member PNB and the same is being considered. Copy of minutes of said meeting is annexed. List on 14.04.2021.”
# 15. On 10.09.2021 the following order was passed:-
“Application filed by the RP under Sections 43, 44 and other provisions of the Code. Learned Counsel for the Respondents sates that except Respondent No. 6, no other respondents have filed reply. There are total 11 respondents, out of which 2 respondents have been dropped, so 9 respondents are there as on date. Mr. Gupta, Learned Counsel for the Respondent No. 1 and 2 seeks time to file reply. Learned Counsel for the RP vehemently objects stating that they have already been proceeded ex-parte. We reject the request of filing reply. Pleadings are complete. Learned counsel for the respondent no. 6 is present. List for hearing on 22.10.2021.”
# 16. On 18.04.2022 the following order was passed:-
“I.A. No. 2445 of 2020: Arguments heard. Order reserved.”
# 17. And on 20.06.2022, the application was allowed and directions were issued which we have been captured in the first para of this order.
# 18. It is pertinent to mention that at the time of preliminary hearing on 08.08.2022, the direction issued in para 17(b) of the impugned order to initiate penal proceedings against the suspended directors and other parties was stayed. It is also pertinent to mention that the Appellant filed I.A. No. 474 of 2023 for bringing on record some additional records procured during the pendency of the matter. This application was contested by the Respondent by way of reply, however, on 11.07.2023 the following order was passed:-
“After arguing sometime, counsel for the Appellant has submitted that he does not want to press this application. Accordingly, this application is hereby dismissed as not pressed.”
# 19. Counsel for the Appellant has argued that the impugned order is non-speaking and arbitrary as the Appellants have not been given fair opportunity to present their case. It is also submitted that the transaction audit report was not made available to the Appellant and finally that the combined application under Sections 43, 45, 66 of the Code is not maintainable in view of the order passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Anuj Jain Vs. Axis Bank Ltd. & Ors. (2020) 8 SCC 401.
# 20. On the other hand, Counsel appearing on behalf of the Respondent has submitted that none of the arguments of the Appellant is tenable because the Appellants have been given due opportunity to contest the application in as much as the order passed by the Adjudicating Authority proceeding against them ex-parte for their non-appearance was set aside and time was granted to file the reply but despite taking various opportunities the reply was not filed for the reasons best known to them and ultimately the right to file reply was closed and that order was not challenged by them before the higher court and had attained finality. It is further submitted that final transaction audit report was shared with the Appellant as has been mentioned in Para 13 of the application bearing 2445 of 2020.
# 21. As regards, the combined application filed under Sections 43, 45 & 66 is concerned, though the Appellant has referred to the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court rendered in the case of Anuj Jain (Supra) in which it has been held that “in the present case, it is noticed that NCLT in its detailed and considered order essentially dealt with the features of the transaction in question being preferential at a relevant time but recorded combined findings on all these three aspects that the impugned transactions were preferential, undervalued and fraudulent. Appropriate it would have been to deal with all these aspects separately and distinctively.” It is contended that though there was one application but ingredients under Section 43, 45 & 66 were differently put by the RP under different heads and in this regard, the Respondent has relied upon a two members decision of this Court rendered in the case of GVR Consulting Services Pvt. Ltd. Vs. Pooja Bahry, CA (AT) (Ins) No. 405 of 2022 decided on 24.04.2023 in which this Tribunal has referred to the decision of the Anuj Jain (Supra) and then held that “what has been emphasized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court is that ingredients of Section 43, 45 and 66 are different and Resolution Professional is expected to keep such requirement in view while making motion to the Adjudicating Authority. When we look into the Application which has been filed in the present case the Resolution Professional has in the avoidance application in his application has dealt with preferential transaction undertaken by the Corporate Debtor and undervalued transaction undertaken by the Corporate Debtor as well as fraudulent transaction in different heads i.e. ‘i’, ‘ii’ and ‘iii’ thus allegations and averments were separately made and filing of composite application does not lead to any infirmity in the Application. We are not persuaded to accept the submission of the Appellant that since the composite Application was filed it ought to have been rejected”.
# 22. We have heard Counsel for the parties and perused the record with their able assistance.
# 23. The facts are not in dispute. It is not in dispute that total claim admitted in the resolution plan was Rs. 2351.97 Lakhs including claim of the financial creditors of Rs. 2277.80 Lakh and claim of the Operational Creditor of Rs. 74.17 Lakhs. It is also not in dispute that the CoC in its second meeting held on 14.02.2020 appointed AKG & Associates for carrying out the transaction audit for the period from 01.04.2017 to 04.12.2019 (CIRP Commencement date) and it is not in dispute either that the transaction auditor presented their final report in the 3rd CoC meeting held on 15.05.2020 and report was shared with the present Appellants. There is no objection raised to the final report by the Appellants submitted to the CoC. Indubitably, the auditor in its transaction audit report made the following observations which read as under:-
“a) The Corporate Debtor has not been able justify the sale of goods/ stock at lower prices by stating that the stock was old/ obsolete and simultaneously knowingly using the same for drawing power calculation year by year.
b) The Corporate Debtor has failed to provide substantial evidence to prove the genuineness of sale and purchases transactions including movement to stocks during the period under audit. Findings such as sale purchase with various parties having common registered address, cancelled GST registration and non-existence of parties proves malicious intentions of corporate debtor.
c) The Corporate Debtor has intentionally sold/transferred its fixed assets at loss through book entries to keep them out of the reach of secured creditors. Further, no substantial documentary evidence to justify the same is available on record.
d) In our opinion it is evident that the corporate debtor has deliberately made the above said transactions to defraud the creditors. The Corporate Debtor has not been able justify the sale of goods/ stock at lower prices by stating that the sock was old/ obsolete and simultaneously knowingly using the same for drawing power calculation year by year.”
# 24. The RP then filed the application under Sections 25(2)(j), 43, 45, 66 and 235A of the Code in which the details of the preferential, undervalued and fraudulent transactions were given under separate heads. The application had to be filed because of the aforesaid transactions the total admitted claim of Rs. 2351.97 Lakh of the creditors became unrecoverable. The RP also gave the summary of avoidance transactions in which preferential was of Rs. 502.46 Lakh, undervalued was of Rs. 1721.19 Lakh and Fraudulent was of Rs. 2384.32 Lakh. The present Appellants, who are arrayed as Respondent No.1 and 2 in the application bearing 2445 of 2020, did not choose to appear at the first instance despite service but later on they were allowed to appear by the Court and also allowed to file their reply to the application but they did not choose to file the reply either and as a result thereof, their right to file reply after giving appropriate opportunities was closed and the said order remained unchallenged at the instance of the Respondents (Appellants herein).
# 25. In such circumstances at this stage, it does not lie in the mouth of the Appellants to make a complaint that they have not been heard or take the shelter of the principle of natural justice when they themselves are to be blamed for the lapse and negligence on their part in not even filing the reply.
# 26. In so far as, the combined application is concerned, the decision in the case of GVR Consulting Services Pvt. Ltd. (Supra) is very much applicable to the present facts and circumstances of the case because the application has been filed giving details under separate heads of the preferential, undervalued and fraudulent transactions determined by the Appellants.
# 27. No other point has been argued.
# 28. In view of the aforesaid discussion, we do not find any merit in the present appeal and the same is hereby dismissed though without any order as to costs
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