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Informist, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – Maharashtra Airport Development Co. Ltd., a special-purpose company under the Maharashtra government, has moved the Supreme Court against an order by the Bombay High Court in 2025, asking the company to refund the advance money of INR 102.96 million to Wipro Ltd. for cancellation of a letter of acceptance for land leased to the information technology company. The apex court will hear Maharashtra Airport Development's plea next on Feb. 16.

 

In 2007, Maharashtra Airport Development Co. leased land to Wipro in a special economic zone near the Nagpur airport for the development of an information technology park. However, the special-purpose company terminated the contract in 2015, accusing Wipro of not complying with the terms and conditions and forfeiting the advance payment.

 

If Maharashtra Airport Development was permitted to retain the advance amount of INR 102.96 million, it would amount to unjust enrichment, as the body has already allotted 33 acres of land to other entities at a much higher rate, the high court had said. If the state body were to suffer any financial losses, the high court court said, it would have been loath to order a refund of the advance payment. However, since it has been able to dispose of some part of the allotted land at a much higher rate, the refund of the advance amount would balance equities between the parties, the high court said.

 

The case has its genesis in the Maharashtra government deciding to develop a composite project named the Multi-Modal International Passenger and Cargo Hub Airport at Nagpur. As part of the project, Maharashtra Airport Development Co. proposed the establishment of a state-of-the-art software technology park in the special economic zone. In 2004, Wipro was approached to acquire 117 acres of land on lease for a 99-year period. The consideration was agreed at INR 514.8 million, out of which 20% was to be paid in advance and the remaining 80% at the time of handing over possession of the land. In 2007, Wipro paid the advance.

 

Wipro said that the site lacked essential facilities, including approach roads, water supply, telecommunication network, power supply layout, transportation, and efficient and reliable air connectivity and was unwilling to proceed with development on the allotted land. In 2013, Wipro asked the company to limit the allotment of land to 23 acres, proposing to commence operations within 36-48 months. However, in 2015, the Maharashtra airport body terminated the contract and Wipro moved the high court seeking a refund.

 

At 1257 IST, shares of Wipro Ltd. were down 2.0% at INR 228.72 on the National Stock Exchange.  End

 

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

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Avishek Dutta

 

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