The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed SpiceJet’s plea seeking additional time to deposit ₹144.51 crore in its dispute with Kalanithi Maran and KAL Airways. The airline had failed to deposit an initial ₹50 crore within 45 days as part of its commitment to pay the outstanding amount in instalments, prompting the court to reject further extensions.
A bench led by Justice Vinod Kumar emphasized that repeated extensions could not be granted due to SpiceJet’s failure to honour its undertaking. The court noted that it might have considered allowing the airline to furnish property documents as security had the initial ₹50 crore been deposited on time. However, the airline’s proposal to offer a Gurugram property as security was also rejected, as it had been previously mortgaged and the court’s primary concern remained the non-payment.
This ruling underscores the court’s strict stance on compliance with financial commitments in ongoing disputes. The case highlights the challenges SpiceJet faces in resolving its dues with Kalanithi Maran and KAL Airways, reflecting broader issues in the aviation sector related to financial liabilities. The enforcement applications related to this dispute are scheduled for further hearing on 3 November.
The court’s written order was not available at press time. SpiceJet had initially undertaken on 13 July to deposit ₹50 crore within 45 days, a deadline it missed, leading to the current rejection of its plea for more time.