PVR INOX’s 4-screen multiplex in Ansal Plaza Mall, Greater Noida, got sealed due to alleged non-payment of government dues by the lessor Sheetal Ansal.
In the Delhi High Court, PVR INOX has filed two arbitration petitions raising a claim of around ₹4.5 Crore against Ansal.
The Gautam Budh Nagar authorities on June 6, 2022, issued an order for recovery of statutory dues of ₹26.33 crore in the name of Ansal Property & Infrastructure Ltd.
PVR INOX claimed that despite repeated requests and communications, the lessor did not deposit the dues and did not resolve the issue with the government authorities which led to the sealing of the entire mall including the multiplex on July 23, 2022.
PVR INOX also submitted that as per terms of the lease, the lessor is liable to pay all taxes, levies and charges by the government authorities, and due to Ansal’s breaches and defaults in fulfilling the obligations, its multiplex got sealed and PVR INOX could not access and operate its cinema business from the said premises and suffered huge losses.
Meanwhile, Ansal’s lawyer told the Court that they also have a counter-claim against PVR INOX which may be around ₹ 4 to ₹ 5 crores and this should also be agitated in the arbitral proceedings.
The Court said that Asnal shall be entitled to raise all legal objections including counter claims before the arbitral tribunal.
“Respondent 1 [Ansal] shall also be entitled, in the arbitral proceedings, to take all legal objections, preliminary as well as on merits. Respondent 1 shall also be entitled to urge any counter-claim which she may choose to urge in the arbitral proceedings in accordance with law,” the order said.
Source: Barandbench
