PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK Vs. DLS INDUSTRIES LIMITED

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an insolvency and bankruptcy Petition for initiation of insolvency resolution process by a Financial Creditor, Punjab National Bank, against the Corporate Debtor on the ground that the Corporate Debtor has defaulted in making payment for the various credit facilities sanctioned by the Bank to the extent of Rs. 4,41,43,273/- as on 31-01-2017 with interest at the rate of 15% per annum plus 2% penal interest from 1.2.2017 till the date of realisation.

(2.) The financial creditor has stated that on 21.11.2009 the Bank has sanctioned Rs. 2.00 crores as Term Loan, Rs. 1.50 crores as Working Capital Loan to the Corporate Debtor. Subsequently on 10.5.2011, the Financial Creditor has enhanced the Term Loan to Rs. 6.55 crores and Working Capital Loan to Rs. 2.50 crores. The said facilities were primarily secured by hypothecation of stock in trade and the entire book debts of the Corporate Debtor. The said facilities were collaterally secured by hypothecation/mortgage of immovable properties belonging to the guarantors (1) Sh. D.L. Sawwalakhe, (2) Sh. Dhananjay Barokar, (3) Mrs. Pranita D. Sawwalakha and (4) M/s. Puce City Land Developers. The Corporate Debtor executed the Term Loan Agreement on 4.5.2010, Supplementary Term Loan Agreement on 14.9.2012, Deed of Hypothecation on 4.5.2010 and the Letter of Mortgage on 12.5.2010. One Mr. D.L. Sawwalakhe and Mr. Jagdish H. Noukaria executed Guarantee Deed on 4.5.2010 in favour of the Financial Creditor guaranteeing the facilities sanctioned by the Financial Creditor. The Corporate Debtor has confirmed the balance due to the Financial Creditor on 31.7.2012. On the request of the Corporate Debtor dated 31.7.2012, the Term Loan was re-scheduled on 1.9.2012 and the Corporate Debtor was permitted to pay the balance outstanding of Rs. 1,87,06,810/- in 84 months commencing from March, 2013 onwards. Since the Corporate Debtor has defaulted in making the payments, the Term Loan Account as well as the Cash Credit Account were classified as non-performing assets on 30.6.2014. The Financial Creditor issued notice u/s. 13(2) of Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Asset and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI), stating that a sum of Rs. 2,81,03,470/- is the outstanding as on 30.6.2014. The Financial Creditor has stated that they have filed a Recovery Suit in the Debt Recovery Tribunal and the same is pending. The Financial Creditor on 14.2.2017 issued a notice to the Corporate Debtor demanding a sum of Rs. 4,41,43,273/- with further interest failing which Insolvency Resolution Proceedings will be initiated against the Corporate Debtor. The Counsel for the Financial Creditor submitted that the business premises of the Corporate Debtor was already closed and the Corporate Debtor is not filing any financial statements with Registrar of Companies from 2014 onwards.

(3.) As to the Petition filed by the Financial Creditor, this Bench, on perusal of the documents filed by the Creditor, observed that the Corporate Debtor defaulted in making payments and since the Financial Creditor placed the name of the Insolvency Resolution Professional to act as Interim Resolution Professional, having this Bench noticed that default has occurred and there is no disciplinary proceeding pending against the proposed resolution professional, the Application under sub-section (2) of section 7 is taken as complete, accordingly this Bench hereby admits this Application declaring Moratorium with the directions as mentioned below: