More Stories

Informist, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026

 

--HC closes contempt case against SpiceJet Chairman Ajay Singh

--CONTEXT: Case against Singh on SpiceJet failure to return engine to lessor 

 

NEW DELHI – The Delhi High Court Tuesday closed a contempt case initiated by it against SpiceJet's Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh for not completely complying with its order to return two aircraft and three aircraft engines to its lessor TWC Aviation Capital Ltd. "...we find it appropriate to dispose of the contempt petition as such granting liberty to the respondent (TWC Aviation Capital Ltd.) to file an execution petition," said the court.

 

The high court noted that the main case against SpiceJet regarding the aircraft and engine has already been disposed of. The court said that a decree in the main suit against the airline can be executed by filing the execution petition. It noted the airline's statement that aircraft frame and engines were handed over to TWC Aviation along with certain technical records and parts of aircraft. The court also noted TWC Aviation's claims that complete technical records were not handed over and some aircraft parts were missing. It said that there was no point in prolonging the contempt case, when there was a option of filing an execution petition, and especially when there were a lot of other cases pending in the high court.

 

In 2019, TWC Aviation leased out the aircraft and engines to SpiceJet for a term of 12 months with a basic rent of $180,000 per month. TWC Aviation had said SpiceJet did not make the payment of the lease rentals and various amendment agreements were signed to accommodate payment difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these amendment agreements were also breached by SpiceJet, said TWC Aviation.

 

Thereafter, the lessor moved the High Court of Justice in England and Wales and instituted a suit against SpiceJet. The UK court had in 2024 directed SpiceJet "delivery-up" of both the aircraft and the three engines and payment of the remaining dues. SpiceJet failed to comply with the same and was found to have removed the engines and used them in other aircraft without permission, leading to further legal notices from the lessor. Consequently, TWC Aviation filed a suit in the Delhi High Court seeking a declaration that the orders by the UK court are valid and binding.

 

Thereafter, the court directed the airline to hand over two Boeing aircraft and three aircraft engines to lessor TWC Aviation Capital for failing to pay dues worth $14 mln. The suit was decreed in favour of TWC Aviation later. After the airline failed to comply with the court's order on time, it registered a suo moto contempt case against Singh. "We are initiating contempt proceedings...You can't take us for a ride. There was an order of court...I just don't understand a litigant taking court for a complete ride...It's not about you, it is about your client. Last time also we gave you time. I take your submission that there has not been complete compliance," the high court had said. It had warned Singh that it cannot suo moto increase the deadline.   

 

At 1410 IST, shares of SpiceJet traded 2.0% higher at INR 11.57 on the BSE.  End

 

US$1 = INR 95.38

IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

 

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

 

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd. by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt. Ltd.

 

Informist Media Tel +91 (11) 4220-1000

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

 

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved.