Delhi HC Stays Insolvency Proceedings Initiated Against Anil Ambani For Rs 1200 Crores Personal Guarantee To SBI

A Division Bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rajneesh Bhatnagar has, however, restricted Anil Ambani from alienating his assets till the next date of hearing.

The court has further said that the IBC proceedings against the corporate debtors shall continue.

The order has come in a plea moved by Anil Ambani against the appointment of a Resolution Professional (RP) on personal guarantee given by him against a loan taken by Reliance Communications Ltd (RCom) and Reliance Infratel Ltd (RITL) from State Bank of India (SBI).

In addition to this, Ambani has also challenged the validity of the provision regarding the personal guarantee and bankruptcy by arguing that there is no enabling provision in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) for such an order.

Ambani is aggrieved by the order passed by theNational Company Law Tribunal, Mumbai Bench on August 20 wherein it is stated that:

'there is no doubt that Ambani furnished his personal guarantee for the credit facility availed by RCom and RITL… The authority accordingly has no other option than to issue the direction.'

Ambani had given a personal guarantee for the loans taken by RCOM and RITL in tune of Rs 1195 crore from the State Bank of India. In 2017, the said firms defaulted on payment which resulted in their loan accounts being declared as Non Performing Assets (NPA).

In March 2020, SBI had filed a petition before the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under section 95 of IBC for personal bankruptcy based on the guarantees issued by Ambani. Under sections 94 or 95 of the IBC, whenever a petition is moved in this regard, NCLT has to direct the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, within seven days of the application, to nominate a RP.

The court will next take up the matter on October 06.