Full Order Text
Interim Order 1 · 10 Oct 2019 · CNR MHCC010059682019
Order Details: Notice of Motion Pdf Text: N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 1 Order. IN THE BOMBAY CITY CIVIL COURT AT BOMBAY. NOTICE OF MOTION NO. 2247 OF 2019 (CNR NO. MHCC010061632019) IN SUIT NO. 2078 OF 2019 (CNR NO. MHCC010059682019) Abhay Narendra Lodha ...Plaintiff Versus Allahabad Bank ...Defendant CORAM : HIS HONOUR JUDGE SHRI G.G.BHANSALI. (C.R.NO.31). DATE : 10th OCTOBER, 2019. Mr. Bobde a/w Ms. Priyanka Dubey, Advocate for Plaintiff. Mr. Prakash Shinde a/w Ms. Niyati Merchant, Advocate for Defendant. ORAL ORDER This is a notice of motion taken out by plaintiff for temporary injunction. 2. Plaintiff is a director and promoter of the company namely “Topworth Pipes and Tubes Private Limited” (hereinafter referred to as “the Company” or “TPTPL”). It is a company incorporated and registered under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956. The company deals into manufacturing of Helical Submerged Arc Welding and steel pipes. The defendant bank has declared the account of company as a fraud account. Hence this motion is preferred by plaintiff. -- 1 of 19 -- N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 2 Order. 3. Plaintiff is the director of suspended board of the company. The list of banks is given at Para 11 of the plaint, who has sanctioned the loan to the TPTPL Company. Due to increase in cost of raw material and nonavailability of timely working capital, it has adversely affected the ability of the company. At the international level there was slow down in the prices of steel, which has resulted the economy of the company. Plaintiff has applied for restructuring of loan in 2015. The list of various meetings conducted by the defendant bank is given in Para 32 of the plaint. In Company Petition No. 175/2015 plaintiff arrived at settlement with M/s. MSTC Ltd., however due to no financial assistance by the consortium banks, plaintiff could not comply the order of the Court. 4. It is added that defendant bank has initiated proceedings under Section 13(2) of SARFAESI Act, 2002 vide notice dated 21/11/2016. The Bank of Baroda has filed O.A.No. 67/2016 before the Hon'ble DRT, Mumbai. Plaintiff has shown his readiness for forensic audit as per letter dated 18/11/2015. In view of letter dated 05/01/2016 the consortium bank has decided to appoint M/s. J.Singh & Associates. In consortium meetings dated 06/06/2016, 05/07/2016 and 28/07/2016, nothing was discussed about forensic audit report. However, the company has supplied all relevant information to the auditor. According to plaintiff, without any sufficient cause and without following principles of natural justice, the account of plaintiff company has been declared as fraud. The plaintiff wrote a letter dated 06/06/2019, asking the reason / information for declaring the account as fraud. However, no reply has been given by the defendant bank. Therefore, it is requested for temporary injunction. -- 2 of 19 -- N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 3 Order. 5. Defendant Allahabad Bank submitted a reply on notice of motion, however the detail written statement is not submitted. It is averred that the present notice of motion and suit are deserves to be dismissed for want of jurisdiction. This is an attempt to delay the recovery proceeding. The account of TPTPL Company is declared as 'NPA'. The lead bank is a Punjab National Bank (PNB) who conducted forensic audit report, wherein, it is noticed that huge fund is siphoned by the plaintiff. It is added that this is one attempt to delay the recovery proceeding. The TPTPL Company has availed credit facility of 43 Crores from the consortium of banks. According to defendant, the civil court does not have the jurisdiction to decide the suit. The account of plaintiff is declared as fraud and red flagged by the defendant. The plaintiff ought to have approach the DRT Court. It is claimed to reject the motion. 6. Ld. Advocate Mr. Bobde alongwith advocate Ms. Priyanka Dubey has submitted on the following material points : a) The defendant bank has declared the account of plaintiff as fraud without following principles of natural justice. b) The copy of forensic report is not supplied to plaintiff despite various letters. c) Almost 60% lenders gave approval for revise plan of restructuring. d) The TPTPL Company has received various notices under Section 13(2) of SARFAESI Act and various properties of the company came to be attached by the defendants. e) Defendants Bank may proceed with attached properties and may sale the same in SARFAESI proceedings. f) Plaintiff is not against the process of recovery. -- 3 of 19 -- N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 4 Order. g) The loss is caused to company due to recession and low prices of steel products. h) The plaintiff company has issued various notices, however no reply is given by the defendant. i) The letter dated 06/06/2019 in respect of reason for declaring the account as fraud remain unreplied. 7. Ld. Advocate Prakash Shinde for defendant vehemently argued that plaintiff as suspended director has no locus standi to file this suit. As per order of NCLT, Mumbai in Petition No. 1239/2018 Mr. Kishan Somani is appointed as Interim Resolution Professional (IRP). The material points from the arguments advanced on behalf of defendant are as follows : a) In view of Section 17, 18 and 231 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Act (2016) I.B.Code, this Court do not vest the jurisdiction. b) Even in absence of forensic report, the account of debtor can be declared as 'Red Flagged'. c) A member of consortium bank can rely on forensic report of a lead bank. d) If the prescribed time limit is not followed by the bank, it will be penalized by the RBI. e) The account of plaintiff is already declared as fraud. f) The consortium bank can declare the account fraud, in absence of forensic report. g) The lead bank in present case is Punjab National Bank and forensic report is done by Punjab National Bank. 8. Ld. Advocate Mr. Shinde for defendant submits that even in -- 4 of 19 -- N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 5 Order. absence of forensic report / audit report, the account of any company can be declared as fraud. The civil court do not vest the jurisdiction. Hence it is claimed to reject the motion. 9. On perusal of Section 60 of I.B.Code, it is in respect of adjudication in relation to insolvency resolution and liquidation for corporate persons. It is to note that no order issued by N.C.L.T. is challenged by plaintiff. Plaintiff approached this Court to restrain defendants from using coercive action and filing criminal cases against the plaintiff and other directors relying on master circular of R.B.I. Therefore Section 60 of I.B.Code do not attract in present case. 10. It would be appropriate to note admitted facts at the inception. Upon completion of all formalities, loan was sanctioned by the defendant bank to plaintiff company. The process of declaring fraud is based on master circular dated 01.07.2016. Plaintiff is not against the process of recovery. The copy of forensic report is not given to plaintiff. The scope of action under master circular is very wide, it includes lawyers, auditors etc. relating to preparation of report of company. 11. It is not disputed that defendant bank has initiated action under master circular dated 01.07.2016. According to learned advocate for defendant, in view of M/s Innovative Industries V/s ICICI bank (Civil Appeal 8337/12017 decided on 31.08.2017), it is held that the suit by insolvent company is not maintainable before the civil court. 12. The material question is whether present suit is tenable before this court. In Bank of India V/s Gupta Coal (Civil revision -- 5 of 19 -- N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 6 Order. 97/2017 decided on 04.09.2018) it is observed that suit relating to red flag and fraud account as per master circular is maintainable before the civil court. The observations of the Hon'ble Lordship of Hon'ble High Court of Bombay, Bench at Nagpur are reproduced for sake of convenience: “The relief as sought is a declaration that the action of the defendants in declaring the account of the plaintiff Company as fraud is illegal followed by prayer for permanent injunction. Various documents including the Forensic Audit Report have been filed on record.” “The relief as sought in the suit is with regard to declaration of the account of the plaintiffCompany as a fraud account. The same cannot be said to be a dispute arising out of ordinary transactions of bankers and traders. It is the case of the plaintiffCompany that in view of various guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India and Master Circular, its accounts has been declared as fraud account without following the due procedure and in breach of principles of natural justice. In the light of the challenge as raised, it would be the Civil court that would retain jurisdiction to entertain the suit.” “Same can not be a reason to reject the plaint. In view of the fact that the reliefs sought in the plaint are not those reliefs which are impermissible in view of provisions of the Sections 17 and 18 of the Act of 1993 as well as Section 34 of the Act of 2002, the cognizance of the suit is not barred before the civil court.” -- 6 of 19 -- N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 7 Order. 13. In view of aforesaid finding of the Hon'ble High Court of Bombay in Gupta Coal Case (supra), it is crystal clear that present suit is tenable before the civil court. 14. The material question is whether essential conditions as per master circular are followed by the defendant bank before the plaintiff account is red flagged and declared as fraud. It is necessary to peruse some basic conditions as mentioned in the master circular issued by the RBI dated 01.07.2016. Para no. 3.2 from said circular is reproduced as follows.: “3.2 Reporting of frauds to Reserve Bank of India. 3.2.1. Banks need to furnish Fraud Monitoring Return (FMR) in individual fraud cases, irrespective of the amount involved, to RBI electronically using FMR Application in XBRL System supplied to them within three weeks from the date of detection. 3.2.2. A monthly certificate, as per AnnexI, (mentioning that soft copy of all the FMRs have been submitted to RBI) is to be submitted by the bank to CFMC, Bengaluru with a copy to the respective SSM of the bank, within seven days from the end of the month.” 15. The para no. 3.2.6 speaks about time limit for flash report. It runs as follows.: “3.2.6. In addition to the FMR, banks are required to furnish a Flash Report (FR) for fraud involving amounts of Rs.50 million and above within a week of such frauds coming to the notice of the bank's head office. The FR is to be furnished in the form of a DO letter addressed to the -- 7 of 19 -- N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 8 Order. PCGM/ CGMinCharge, DBS, RBI, Central Office, Mumbai with a copy to CFMC, Bengaluru. The FR, inter alia, should include amount involved, nature of fraud, modus operandi in brief, name of the branch/ office, names of parties involved, their constitution, names of proprietors/ partners and directors, names of officials involved and lodging of complaint with police/CBI.” 16. According to para no. 3.3, in respect of delay in reporting frauds and to fix responsibility of staff. It runs as follows.: 3.3.1. Bank should ensure that the reporting system is suitable streamlined so that delays in reporting of frauds, submission of delay and incomplete fraud reports are avoided. Banks must fix staff accountability in respect of delays in reporting fraud cases to RBI. “3.3.2. Delay in reporting of frauds and the consequent delay in alerting other banks about the modus operandi and dissemination of information through Caution Advice/ CFR against unscrupulous borrowers could result in similar frauds being perpetrated elsewhere. Bank should therefore, strictly adhere to the time frame fixed in this circular for reporting of fraud cases to RBI failing which they would be liable for penal action prescribed under Section 47(A) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.” 17. It is material to note that the delay as expected in para no. 3.3 of master circular is not explained by the defendant bank nor responsibility of staff is fixed for avoiding to report the fraud to RBI, if any. -- 8 of 19 -- N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 9 Order. 18. Para no. 4.4 of master circular speaks about special committee of the board, which includes MD and C.E.O. of the company. Defendant is failed to clarify in respect of such committee formed by defendant. 19. Para no. 8.3 of master circular is in a respect of EWS and RFA (early warning signals and red flagged accounts). It expects detail investigation into RFA. The modalities for monitory and detailed study of annual report as whole is expected by FMG (fraud monitoring group). The report require to submit to the special committee of the board. Para no. 8.7 and 8.8 are in respect of prompt reporting. The material part is reproduced as follows. “Delay, for the purpose of this circular, would mean that the fraud was not flashed to CFMC, RBI or reported on the CRILC platform, RBI within a period of one week from its (i) classification as a fraud through the RFA route which has a maximum time line of six months or (ii) detection/ declaration as a fraud ab initio by the bank as hitherto. 8.8 Bank as a sole lender. 8.8.1. In cases where the bank is the sole lender, the FMG will take a call on whether an account in which EWS are observed should be classified as RFA or not. This exercise should be completed as soon as possible and in any case within a month of the EWS being noticed. In case the account is classified as RFA, the FMG will stipulate the nature and level of further investigations or remedial measures necessary to protect the bank's interest within a stipulated time which can not exceed six months.” -- 9 of 19 -- N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 10 Order. 20. It is surprising to note that defendant bank is silent in respect of prompt reporting and stipulated time, as mentioned above. It is incumbent on the part of bank to use external auditors, including forensic experts and internal team to investigate before taking a final view on the RFA. (Red flagged accounts.) 21. It is to note that plaintiff has issued various notices. However, no reply was given by the defendant. However, in view of petition preferred by the defendant bank, Hon'ble NCLT, Mumbai has appointed Insolvency Resolution Professional to Mr. Kishan Somani on 11/12/2018. During January to August, 2018, various meetings of Committee of Creditors were conducted, but nothing adverse came to be recorded against the plaintiff borrower. 22. In Para no.11.9.3 of the Master Circular, it is observed that individual banks must conduct their own due diligence before taking any credit exposure and also independently monitor the end use of funds rather than depend fully on the consortium leader. 23. In Para 11.9.4 of the Master Circular, it is expected that within 15 days from the Red Flagged Account, the lender bank should convene the meeting of JLF. The material part from Para 11.9.4 is reproduced as follows : “11.9.4. Thereafter, within 15 days, the bank which has red flagged the account or detected the fraud would ask the consortium leader or the largest lender under MBA to convene a meeting of the JLF to discuss the issue. The meeting of the JLF so requisitioned must be convened within 15 days of such a request being received. In case -- 10 of 19 -- N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 11 Order. there is a broad agreement, the account would be classified as a fraud; else based on the majority rule of agreement amongst banks with at least 60% share in the total lending, the account would be red flagged by all the banks and subjected to a forensic audit commissioned or initiated by the consortium leader or the largest lender under MBA. All banks, as part of the consortium or multiple banking arrangements, would share the costs and provide the necessary support for such an investigation.” 24. In Para 11.9.5 of the Master Circular, it is expected that forensic audit must be completed within maximum period of three months. In Para 11.9.6 of the Master Circular, it is incumbent to complete entire exercise in six months. 25. The consequences of a willful default is spelt out in paragraph 2.5 of the master circular. The consequences are of a serious nature and character. The consequences are that “(i) No additional facilities can be granted by any bank or financial institution to an entity which is listed as a willful defaulter; (ii) Enterprenuers and promoters of companies where there has been a siphoning off or diversion of funds or a misrepresentation, falsification of accounts or fraudulent transactions are debarred from institutional finance for a period of five years; (iii) Legal proceedings against borrowers and guarantors and for foreclosure and recovery of dues are instituted. Lenders may initiate criminal proceedings against willful defaulters -- 11 of 19 -- N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 12 Order. wherever necessary; and (iv) Banks and financial institutions may adopt a proactive approach for a change of management of a willfully defaulting borrower unit.” 26. As observed in Finolex Industries (infra), these are serious consequences which ensue on the declaration of an entity as a willful defaulter and only go to emphasise the importance of complying with the principles of natural justice before a decision is finally arrived at. A determination in regard to an entity being a willful defaulter can only be made after compliance with the procedure which has been established in paragraph 3 of the master circular. Absent compliance with the procedural norms, and upon a breach of the principles of natural justice, the decision would stand vitiated. 27. As observed in Finolex Industries V/s. R.B.I. (W.P.No. 345/2011 dated 24/08/2011) the master circular contemplates a two stage enquiry i.e. “The first stage contemplates that a decision to classify a borrower as a willful defaulter is entrusted to a committee of “Higher Functionaries” headed by the Executive Director and consists of two General Managers / DGMS as may be decided by the Board of the bank or financial institution. The object of entrusting the decision to a committee of higher functionaries is with a view to imparting objectivity in identifying cases of willful default. The circular requires that a decision taken on classification of willful -- 12 of 19 -- N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 13 Order. defaulters should “be well documented and supported by requisite evidence”. The decision has to “clearly spell out the reasons for which the borrower has been declared as a willful defaulter visavis RBI guidelines”. At the first stage, when proceedings take place before a committee of higher functionaries (the Willful Defaulters' Committee or WDC), no hearing has been contemplated. The circular, however, postulates that thereafter the borrower should be suitably advised about the proposal to classify him as a willful defaulter along with reasons in support thereof. A reasonable period of time of about fifteen days is to be provided for making a representation against such a decision to a Grievance Redressal Committee headed by the Chairman and Managing Director and consisting of two senior officials. That is the second stage where the borrower submits a representation and is heard. The Grievance Redressal Committee has to give a hearing to the borrower if he represents that he has been wrongly classified as a willful defaulter. A final declaration as a willful defaulter can be made after a view is taken by the committee on the representation.” 28. It is held in Finolex Industries Limited (supra) that : “It was incumbent on the part of the Grievance Redressal Committee to forward all the required -- 13 of 19 -- N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 14 Order. documents to facilitate compliance with the principles of natural justice. In that case, it was held that nonfurnishing of the documents amounted to a violation of the principles of natural justice.” 29. In Moserbaer India Ltd. V/s. State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur & Anr. (Civil W.P.No. 7488/2016 dated 07/09/2016) the High Court of Rajasthan expects some conditions to be fulfilled before declaring any account as 'willful defaulter'. It is observed that : “An opportunity of hearing ought to be effective hearing. Fair play demand that the documents/ evidence on which Identification Committee relied before issuing a show cause notice, must be shared or shown to the petitioner/borrower company so that they can put forward their defence and explain purport of the documents.” 30. In M/s. Oswal Apparels Private Limited V/s. SBI, the Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court in Civil W.P.No. 3307/2016 dated 14/02/2017 observed that : “It is also settled principle of law that the documents that are relied upon by any authority in arriving at a conclusion must be made available to the affected party to conform to the principles of natural justice. That apart, the petitioners ought to have been afforded adequate opportunity to present their case in its correct perspective.” -- 14 of 19 -- N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 15 Order. 31. As observed above, the scope of final measures in master circular for fraudulent borrower is very wide. It is not limited for recovery of loan. Plaintiff has defaulted in payment of loan due to recession in market. 32. Ld. Advocate for plaintiff submits that merely default in repayment cannot be the ground to lodge criminal complaint against the debtor. As observed in Satishchandra Shah V/s. State of Gujarat And Another (Criminal Appeal No. 9/2019 dated 03/01/2019) the Hon'ble Apex Court observed as follows : “The law clearly recognizes a difference between simple payment/investment of money and entrustment of money or property. A mere breach of a promise, agreement or contract does not, ipso facto, constitute the offence of the criminal breach of trust contained in Section 405 IPC without there being a clear case of entrustment.” 33. In Hridaya Verma V/s. State of Bihar (2000) 4 SCC 168 it is observed that, “In the case before us, admittedly the appellant was trapped in economic crisis and therefore, he had approached the respondent no. 2 to ameliorate the situation of crisis. Further, in order to recover the aforesaid amount, the respondent no.2 had instituted a summary civil suit seeking recovery of the loan amount which is still pending adjudication. The mere inability of the appellant to return the loan amount cannot give rise to a criminal -- 15 of 19 -- N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 16 Order. prosecution for cheating unless fraudulent or dishonest intention is shown right at the beginning of the transaction, as it is this mens rea which is the crux of the offence.” 34. As observed in aforesaid two rulings, the legislature intended to criminalize only those breaches which are accompanied by fraudulent, dishonest or deceptive inducements, which resulted in involuntary and inefficient transfers, under Section 415 of IPC. 35. Plaintiff is a promoter and director of the TPTPL Company. The copy of forensic report is not produced before the Court. There is no evidence submitted by the defendant in respect of necessary compliance as per master circular. Defendant bank has not availed copy of forensic report conducted by the Punjab National Bank nor its summary is produced before the Court. There is no individual or separate forensic report prepared by the defendant bank. 36. The aforesaid discussion can be summarized in following points : A) The principles of natural justice are not followed by the bank before declaring the account as 'willful defaulter' or 'fraud'. B) Various notices are issued under the SARFAESI Act and properties of plaintiff company came to be attached by the bank. C) Various notices of plaintiff to seek for information and documents are remain unreplied on the part of defendant. D) In reply filed by defendant no.1 no instances are given in -- 16 of 19 -- N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 17 Order. respect of siphoning of funds. E) The prescribed schedule as stipulated in master circular about time limit, responsibilities of staff etc. is not followed by the bank. F) No instance of fraud is given by defendant. G) No written statement in detail is filed by defendant. 37. As discussed above, there is a strong prima facie case in favour of plaintiff. There is no forensic audit / report done by the defendant nor the details of siphoning of the funds are illustrated by the defendant bank. Plaintiff does not have any grudge if the proceeding under SARFAESI Act would be continued. It appear that defendant bank has initiated the action for recovery of loan under the garb of master circular of RBI dated 01/07/2016. 38. The property of plaintiff company is attached under SARFAESI Act. Plaintiff don't have any objection to continue with sale of said property. Admittedly, upon mortgage of various properties of company, loan came to be sanctioned by defendant bank. Plaintiff is ready to face consequences of DRT and recovery proceeding. 39. On perusal of order of NCLT, Mumbai in Petition No. 1239/2018 dated 11/12/2018 Mr. Kishan Somani is appointed as IRP. However, in said petition there is no whisper of defendant bank against the plaintiff in respect of siphoning of the funds. There is no single incidence narrated by the defendant in respect of siphoning of the funds by the plaintiff. On the contrary, plaintiff has consented for appointment of IRP before the NCLT, Mumbai. -- 17 of 19 -- N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 18 Order. 40. Considering wide scope of master circular, the balance of convenience lies in favour of plaintiff. Obviously, irreparable loss will be caused to plaintiff, if the court refuse to grant injunction as prayed. Hence, the order : ORDER 1. The Notice of Motion no. 2247 of 2019 is allowed, as per prayer clause “a” and “b”. 2. Defendant bank, personally or through representative are restrained from taking coercive action against plaintiff on account of red flag or fraud account, based on master circular. Defendant or their representative are restrained from branding the plaintiff as willfull defaulter and publishing the name of plaintiff as defaulter, till further order. 3. Defendant may submit written statement in detail to expedite hearing. 4. It is made clear that defendant bank may continue with proceeding under SARFAESI Act, recovery proceeding, attachment and sale of attached property to recover the defaulted loan against plaintiff. 5. Notice of Motion no. 2247 of 2019 is disposed of accordingly. (G.G.BHANSALI) Judge, Date : 10/10/2019. City Civil & Sessions Court, Mumbai. 1. Dictated on : 10/10/2019. 2. Transcribed on : 15/10/2019. 3. Signed on : 15/10/2019. 4. Delivered to Certified : Copy Section on -- 18 of 19 -- N/m No. 2247/19 in Suit No. 2078/19. 19 Order. “CERTIFIED TO BE TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE ORIGINAL SIGNED JUDGMENT/ORDER” UPLOAD DATE AND TIME NAME OF STENOGRAPHER 16/10/2019. 11.09 a.m. Miss M.A.Kulkarni Name of the Judge (with Court Room no.) HHJ Shri G.G.Bhansali. (Court Room No.31). Date of Pronouncement of Judgment/Order 10/10/2019. Judgment/Order signed by P.O. on 15/10/2019. Judgment/Order uploaded on 16/10/2019. -- 19 of 19 --
