Authority: National Company Law Tribunal, New Delhi Special Bench (Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal, President & Ms. Reena Sinha Puri, Member (Technical))

Order Date: 29 June 2026

Case Overview

The matter involves a contempt application (Cont. P-14/2026) filed by Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) against M/s. Mutiwal Pulp and Board Mills Pvt Ltd (Respondent No. 1) and another respondent (Respondent No. 2, not explicitly named) for alleged wilful non-compliance with the Tribunal's orders dated 05.01.2026 and 18.03.2026. These orders, passed in IA-958/2025 and IA-3984/2025, directed the respondent to pay a sum of ₹1,50,00,000 (One Crore Fifty Lakh Rupees) to UPCL. This payment obligation was based on a consent agreement recorded by the Tribunal, where the respondent's counsel (representing Marina India Traexim Private Limited) had offered to pay ₹1.5 crore in cash against UPCL's disputed claim and deposit the balance amount of ₹2,81,75,179 (Two Crore Eighty-One Lakh Seventy-Five Thousand One Hundred Seventy-Nine Rupees) in an escrow account.

The applicant (UPCL) alleges deliberate non-compliance with this consent order. The respondent's counsel, during the hearing, submitted that they were not in a position to pay the entire amount but offered to pay the ₹1.5 crore within one month. The Tribunal formed a prima facie view that the respondent was trying to circumvent its orders. It was also noted that an application for modification of the order (IA-2090/2026) was filed significantly after the original order was passed and after the respondent had already sought time to comply on 18.03.2026.

Final Outcome

The Tribunal did not immediately rule on the contempt application but issued a directive for Respondent No. 2 to be physically present in court on the next date of hearing, 14 July 2026, to explain the reasons for non-compliance with the orders. The matter was listed for further hearing on that date, along with the related applications IA-958/2025, IA-3984/2025, and IA-2090/2026.

Topics: Contempt of Court, Debt Recovery, Consent Order