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2022 (1) TMI 1382 - AT - Insolvency and BankruptcySeeking direction for modification of the Approved Resolution Plan of Respondent No. 2 and 3, in compliance with Regulations 42 and 44 of the liquidation Process Regulation 2016 - Non-deduction of ₹ 34 crores from the final payment to be made to the Applicant/Appellant as per the scheme of distribution from out of the amount under the Resolution Plan - HELD THAT:- It is important to mention that the resolution professional admits in its Reply that it had suggested the COC two options to either treat the illegal recovery is made by the Appellant as interim finance under the IB Code or sent to deduction of the amount of illegally recovered amount by the Appellant, out of distribution amount payable to the Appellant under the Resolution Plan. Accordingly, the COC, upon deliberation, consented to deduction of the said amount from the distribution amount owed to the Appellant under the Resolution Plan submitted by Respondents No. 2 & 3 in the 30th and 31st Meeting of the COC held on 5 February 2020 on 7 February 2020 respectively. It is further necessary to mention that the Resolution Professional has in its Reply admitted that in terms of duty cost upon him under Sections 20 and 25 of the Code to continue and maintain the business of the Corporate Debtor as a going concern, it had requested the Appellant to continue and sustain the Non-Fund-Based Facility NBF Facility limits at the existing level at being drawn by the Corporate Debtor prior to the insolvency commencement date. The said request was made on account of the business requirement of the Corporate Debtor - It is pertinent to mention that Section 25 of the Code provides the duties of the Resolution Professional. Under Section 25(2)(c), the RP must raise interim finance subject to the approval of the Committee of Creditors under Section 28 of the Code. Further, under Section 20 (2) (1) &(2)(c) of the Code, the IRP/RP is duty-bound to make every endeavour to protect and preserve the value of the property of the Corporate Debtor and manage the operations of the Corporate Debtor as a going concern. For this purpose, IRP/RP is entitled to raise interim finance. In the instant case, Resolution Professional has admitted that it had suggested the COC two options, to either treat the recovery made by the Appellant as interim finance under IB code or deduct the amount illegally recovered by the Appellant, out of distribution amount payable to the Appellant under the Resolution Plan. Thus, it is clear that RP failed to exercise its jurisdiction to decide the issue of CIRP cost and left it to the CoC to decide whether the amount incurred in keeping the Corporate Debtor as a going concern, by the continuation of letter of credit bank guarantee facility during the CIRP would be treated as interim finance. However, it was the duty of IRP/RP itself to decide the CIRP cost. After that, instead of taking advice from the COC for treating the said expenses as interim finance, he should have obtained sanction from the CoC for making the payment of the expenses incurred during the CIRP. It is clear that the Appellant never recovered any amount from the payment of ₹ 34 crores, as has been misrepresented by Respondent No. 1. The Adjudicating Authority vide its impugned Order observed that the Appellant has not objected to the said actions of Respondent No. 1 in the COC meetings is contrary to the materials placed before the Adjudicating Authority. Furthermore, the Appellant had refuted the actions of respondent No. 1 vide its Email dated 20 February 2020, which the Adjudicating Authority has overlooked - Appeal allowed in part.
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