The settlement of a six-year dispute between McDonald’s India and Vikram Bakshi may be in jeopardy, with an appellate tribunal saying it would review – and may even reverse – their agreement.
The tribunal said the two sides had failed to obtain its approval for their settlement and the deal appeared to violate an order of the Debt Recovery Tribunal in proceedings initiated by state-owned Housing and Urban Development Corporation (Hudco) against Bakshi.
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal ordered Bakshi not to leave the country without informing it or the DRT.
“As we find that the parties have reached agreement which has not been approved by this appellate tribunal, prima facie being against the interim order of DRT, we are of the view that the parties should not implement such agreement nor leave this country without intimating the Debt Recovery Tribunal or this appellate tribunal,” a two-member NCLAT bench led by Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya said on Wednesday. The case will next be heard on November 19.
McDonald’s India acquired Bakshi’s 50% stake in Connaught Plaza Restaurants Ltd, their joint venture for the burger chain’s operations in north and east India, in May, settling a dispute that erupted when Bakshi was fired as CPRL’s managing director in 2013. McDonald’s India and Bakshi then sought to withdraw the cases they had filed against each other.
However, the NCLAT said it may reverse their agreement and the transfer of shares if it finds the deal violated the DRT’s order.
The NCLAT had previously advised Bakshi and Hudco to reach a settlement so that the tribunal could approve the agreement between McDonald’s India and Bakshi.
Bakshi’s lawyer Amit Sibal said Bakshi had transferred the proceeds from the CPRL share sale to Hudco. Sibal also said Bakshi had offered to pay Rs 148 crore against the initial loan of Rs 62 crore.
Hudco, represented by solicitor general Tushar Mehta, however, said Hudco could not settle for an amount less than the Rs 195 crore determined by the DRT.
