SANJAY PATEL Vs. NIMBUS COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By this petition filed under section 34 of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996 (for short "the Arbitration Act"), the petitioner seeks to impugn the arbitral award dated 14th August, 2014, passed by the learned arbitrator, allowing the claims made by the respondent and directing the petitioner to pay a sum of Rs.8,70,66,010/- with further interest on the sum of Rs.7,42,32,492/- at the rate of 10% p.a. from 1st May, 2013 till the date of payment and also to pay a sum of Rs.7,50,000/- towards the arbitration costs. Some of the relevant facts for the purpose of deciding this arbitration petition are as under :

(2.) The petitioner herein was the original respondent, whereas the respondent herein was the original claimant in the arbitral proceedings. On 15th October, 2009, the petitioner and the respondent entered into Media Rights License Agreement (for short the said 'MRLA"), whereby the petitioner licensed to the respondent the right to broadcast international and domestic cricket matches organized by the petitioner in India between 1st April, 2010 and 31st Mach, 2014 on the terms and conditions set out therein.

(3.) On 29th October, 2010, the petitioner and the respondent entered into a Production Agreement whereby the respondent was appointed as production partner for producing the audio-visual coverage on behalf of the petitioner in respect of the matches covered under the MRLA on the terms and conditions set out therein.