The Delhi High Court has summoned SpiceJet CEO and COO to court after failure to pay $6 million due to engine lessors Team France and Sunbird France.
“The chief operating officer and chief executive officer of the judgement debtor [SpiceJet] are direct to remain present in court on the date of hearing on January 16, 2025,” the court said in its order on December 10, 2024.
The airline had been ordered to pay $4.8 million through monthly instalments of $1.2 million through September 2024, as well as weekly rental fees for the engine.
SpiceJet defaulted on these payments and the court had ordered the grounding of the three engines in August. SpiceJet were ordered to return the engines with in 15 days.
SpiceJet advocate Chinmayi Chatterjee had urged the court to adjourn on “the account of unavailability of senior counsel".
In addition, SpiceJet's counsel had requested for appearance via video conference, which Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora had “specifically denied”.
While the court has summed both SpiceJet CEO and COO, however the role of CEO and COO are vacant. Rather, Ajay Singh acts as chairman and managing director. Ashish Kumar acts as chief financial officer.