Delhi HC dismisses SpiceJet and its promoter Ajay Singh's review plea in case against Maran-Kal Airways

The Delhi High Court on on May 4 rejected review petitions filed by SpiceJet and its promoter Ajay Singh, who had sought reconsideration of an earlier directive requiring them to deposit Rs 144 crore in an ongoing legal battle with media entrepreneur Kalanithi Maran and Kal Airways.

Hearing the case, Justice Subramonium Prasad not only dismissed the pleas but also levied a cost of Rs 50,000 on both the airline and Singh, saying that the petitions stood “dismissed with cost of Rs 50,000.”

Earlier, on January 19, the court had instructed SpiceJet and Singh to deposit Rs 144 crore with the court registry within six weeks, noting an admitted liability of Rs 194 crore. Subsequently, on March 18, the deadline for compliance was extended by an additional four weeks.


In their appeal for review, Singh and the low-cost carrier cited multiple grounds, including financial strain linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, to justify reconsideration of the March 18 order.

Also read | Vikramshila bridge in Bhagalpur partially collapses over ganga, no casualties reported

As an alternative to the cash deposit, SpiceJet proposed furnishing a commercial property located in Gurugram as security. The airline also apprised the court that it was in discussions with the Centre for potential financial support.

Opposing the review petitions, Maran and Kal Airways argued that claims of financial hardship had already been examined and dismissed by the Supreme Court of India, leaving no fresh grounds for reconsideration.

The dispute traces back to allegations concerning the failure to issue warrants to Maran following the transfer of ownership control to Singh, who remains the airline’s principal shareholder.

The origins of the conflict date to February 2015, when Singh regained control of SpiceJet during a period of acute financial distress faced by the carrier.

At that time, Maran and Kal Airways had divested their entire holding of 35.04 crore equity shares—representing a 58.46 per cent stake—in the airline, transferring it to SpiceJet’s co-founder Singh for a nominal sum of Rs 2.

Also read | Pro-Pakistan slogans raised in Bareilly market, six detained

In a related development in May 2024, a division bench of the Delhi High Court overturned an earlier ruling by a single judge that had upheld an arbitral award directing SpiceJet and Ajay Singh to pay Rs 579 crore along with interest to Maran.

The division bench, comprising Justices Yashwant Varma and Ravinder Dudeja, allowed the appeals submitted by Singh and SpiceJet against the July 31, 2023, order. The bench remitted the matter back to the appropriate court for fresh adjudication of the petitions.