NCML Faizabad Private Limited

The present petition CP (IB) No.313/Chd/Hry/2024 is filed by the Applicant/ Liquidator of the Corporate Person under Section 59 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 read (for brevity “Code”) with Insolvency & Bankruptcy Board of India (Voluntary Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2017 (for brevity, the “Regulations”) with a prayer for dissolution of the Corporate Person namely, Ncml Faizabad Private Limited (for brevity, the ‘Corporate person’ or ‘Company’).

The facts, as stated in the petition, are as below:

The Corporate Person was incorporated on January 18, 2017 under the name "NCML FAIZABAD PRIVATE LIMITED" having Corporate Identification Number U01100HR2017PTC067123 issued by the Registrar of Companies, National Capital Territory of Delhi and Haryana. Certified true copy of the Certificate of Incorporation dated January 18, 2017 issued by the Registrar of Companies is annexed with the petition as Annexure P-1. Certified true copies of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Corporate Person are annexed with the petition as Annexure P-2.

The Authorized Share capital of the Corporate Person is Rs. 7,00,00,000/-(Rupees Seven Crores only) divided into 70,00,000 (Seventy Lakhs) Equity shares of Rs. 10/- (Rupees Ten Only) each and Issued and Paid-up Capital of the Corporate Person is Rs. 7,00,00,000/- (Rupees Four Crores only) divided into 70,00,000 (Forty Lakhs) Equity shares of Rs. 10/- (Rupees Ten Only) each. Certified true copy of the List of Shareholders of the · Corporate Person as on July 30, .2024 is annexed with the petition as Annexure P-3.

The Corporate Person had entered into a concession agreement with Food Corporation of India ("FCI") for construction, operation and maintenance of Silo Complex for storage of food grain on behalf of FCI at Faizabad, in the state of Uttar Pradesh under Design, Build, Finance, Own and Operate (DBFOO) model) for a period of thirty years. The Corporate Person had to construct the Silo Complex within two years from the date of signing of the concession agreement. However, on account of various challenges including with respect to purchase of land, obtaining regulatory approval from various authorities, financial viability of the Project etc., the management had filed an application for cancellation of concession contract with FCI by invoking the Force Majeure clause/terms of the agreement.

The Corporate Person was set up to execute the work under the specific contract, owing to its cancellation, the management decided to initiate the process of liquidation of the Corporate Person. Therefore, the Board of Directors of the Corporate Person proposed to wind up the affairs of the Corporate Person voluntarily. Copy of the Audited Annual Accounts of the Corporate Person for the financial year ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024 are annexed with the petition as Annexure P-5.

For the purpose of liquidation of Corporate Person voluntarily, the Board of Directors prepared the Declaration of Solvency on July 30, 2024, duly verified by an Affidavit given by the Directors of the Corporate Person. Copy of Declaration of Solvency along with the Affidavits and audited accounts as on July 22, 2024 are annexed with the petition as Annexure P-6. The relevant extract of affidavit regarding Declaration of Solvency is reproduced as below:

The Board of Directors of the Corporate Person convened a meeting on July 30, 2024, for taking on record the Declaration of Solvency given by its directors, approving the proposal for liquidation of Corporate Person voluntarily and appointment of insolvency professional to act as Liquidator, subject to approval of Members. That the Corporate Person has filed Declaration of Solvency with the Registrar of Companies, NCT of Delhi and Haryana in Form GNL-2 on July 31, 2024 vide SRN AA9531630 and certified true copy of the Board resolutions in Form MGT-14 on July 31, 2024 vide SRN AA9524225. Copy of the resolutions passed by the Board of Directors and Minutes of the Board meeting are annexed hereto and marked as Annexure P-7 and copy of Form GNL2 and Form MGT-14 filed with the Registrar of Companies along with their respective challans are annexed with the petition as Annexure P-8.

Pursuant to the aforesaid proposal, the Board of Directors of the Corporate Person called the meeting of its members for obtaining approval for liquidation of Corporate Person and appointment of Mr. Rajesh Panayanthatta, Insolvency Professional to act as Liquidator for voluntary liquidation. The meeting of members was duly convened on July 30, 2024, and resolutions for voluntary liquidation and appointment of Liquidator were unanimously passed. Copy of Consent of Liquidator, members resolutions and Minutes of the Extra Ordinary General meeting are annexed with the petition as Annexure P-9.

The special resolutions passed in the members meeting held on July 30, 2024 were filed by the Corporate Person in Form MGT-14 with the Registrar of Companies, NCT of Delhi and Haryana on July 31, 2024, vide SRN AA9526623. Copies of Form filed with the Registrar of Companies along with its challan are annexed with the petition as Annexure P-10. The relevant extract of the special resolution is reproduced as below:

An intimation regarding commencement of voluntary liquidation and appointment of Liquidator was filed by the Liquidator on July 31, 2024 with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India. Copy of email with respect to submission of intimation with Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India regarding voluntary liquidation and appointment of Liquidator document is annexed with the petition as Annexure P-11.

The Liquidator of the Corporate Person made public announcement in Form A of Schedule I of the Regulations in "Financial Express", English Newspaper and "Jansatta", Hindi Newspaper, both dated July 31, 2024, inviting stakeholders to submit their claims, if any, within 30 (thirty) days from the date of commencement of liquidation i.e., July 30, 2024. Copy of Public announcement in Form A as published in newspapers along with the copy of newspapers are annexed with the petition as Annexure P-12.

The Liquidator has filed Form GNL-2 with Registrar of Companies, NCT of Delhi and Haryana on July 31, 2024, vide· SRN AA9530821 for intimation of commencement of liquidation, appointment of liquidator and public announcement so made by the Liquidator and also filed with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, a copy of publication made in Form A for making public announcement inviting stakeholders to submit their claims, on August 1, 2024. Copy of Form GNL-2 filed with the Registrar of Companies along with its challan and copy of email with respect to submission of public announcement with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India are annexed with the petition as Annexure P-13.

The Liquidator submitted his request with the Income Tax Department for registration as Representative of the Corporate Person on August 1, 2024, which was duly approved by the said department on August 12, 2024. Copy of the screen shot of request made by the Liquidator to the Income Tax Department and copy of the reply email received from the Income Tax Department is annexed with the petition as Annexure P-14.

The application for closure of the old bank account bearing number 000285700000222 of the Corporate Person was submitted by the Liquidator with Yes Bank Ltd., which was closed on August 29, 2024. Copy of email received from Yes Bank Ltd. stating closure of bank account of the Corporate Person is annexed with the petition as Annexure P-15. It is submitted that since the Corporate Person had no assets or funds, it was not required to open a new bank account for receiving and making payment of dues of the Corporate Person. Hence no new bank account was opened for liquidation purposes.

Pursuant to the public announcement made by the Liquidator, claim was received from the holding company of the Corporate Person on August 23, 2024 in Form F along with the Affidavit and proof of claim and from Creditor on August 29, 2024 in Form B along with the Affidavit and proof of claim. Copy of claim submitted by the stakeholders and proof of such claims are annexed with the petition as Annexure P-16.

On 29.08.2024, another claim from an operational creditor i.e NSDL was also received towards the Annual Custody Fee. Since the said claim was not reflected in the books of accounts of the Company, Liquidator sought clarification from the Directors of the corporate person vide email dated 21.09.2024. The Directors of the corporate person vide their email dated 21.09.2024 intimated and confirmed that there are no claims outstanding of NSDL. Accordingly, vide mail dated 09.10.2024, Liquidator intimated NSDL about the same and also intimated them that since the amount was already discharged, as intimated by the Board of Directors, the claim stands rejected. NSDL never raised any objection to the same. Copy of claim submitted by NSDL, email dated 21.09.2024 and email dated 09.10.2024 are annexed with the petition as Annexure P-17.

The Liquidator in terms of Regulation 9 of the Regulations, prepared the Preliminary Report as on September 6, 2024 wherein the details with respect to the capital structure of the Corporate Person, the estimates of its assets and liabilities as on July 30, 2024, the proposed plan of action for carrying out the liquidation, including the timeline within which the Liquidator proposes to carry out the liquidation was stated. Copy of Preliminary Report as on September 6, 2024 is annexed with the petition as Annexure P-18. The Preliminary Report prepared by the Liquidator was submitted with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India on September 7, 2024. Certified true copy of email showing submission of Preliminary Report with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India is annexed with the petition as Annexure P-19.

Upon receipt of the claims, the Liquidator verified the same within 30 (thirty) days from the date of its receipt and thereafter prepared the List of Stakeholders as on October 11, 2024. Copy of List of Stakeholders dated October 11, 2024, is annexed with the petition as Annexure P-20.

On completion of the liquidation process, the Liquidator prepared the Final Report consisting of an audited account of the voluntary liquidation, showing the receipts and payments pertaining to liquidation since the liquidation commencement date and demonstrating that no litigation is pending against the Corporate Person. The Liquidator has also prepared a compliance certificate in Form H, as per Regulation 38(3) of the Regulations stating therein the details of voluntary liquidation process. Copy of the Final Report along with its annexures and Form-H are annexed with the petition as Annexure P-21.

The Liquidator in terms of Regulation 38 of the IBBI Regulations, has submitted the copy of the Final Report alongwith annexures and Form-H via Form GNL-2 vide SRN: AB1638098 on October 24, 2024 with the Registrar of Companies, NCT of Delhi and Haryana and with Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India on October 24, 2024. Certified true copy of Form GNL-2 filed with the Registrar of Companies along with its challan and copy of email sent to Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India are annexed with the petition as Annexure P-22. The relevant extract of Form-H is reproduced as below:

ROC filed its report vide Diary 0404116034912024/8 and has not raised any objection. The operative portion of the ROC’s Report is reproduced below, for the immediate reference:

FCI filed its reply vide Diary no 0404116034912024/7 and has made following prayers:

During the course of hearing before this Tribunal on 19.05.25 following observations and directions were made by this Tribunal:

In pursuance of the above observations and directions, three separate affidavits have been filed by the Mr. Pankaj Tomar, Director vide Diary No. 03491/11 dated 09.06.2025 and refiled vide Diary No. 03491/13 dated 09.06.2025, by Mr. Anuj Kumar Vasdev, Director vide Diary No. 03491/12 dated 09.06.2025 and by Mr. Ravi Shankar, Director vide Diary No. 03491/14 dated 09.06.2025 deposing that the Company does not and shall not claim any right, title, or interest in the fixed deposit created by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) pursuant to the Hon’ble Delhi High Court’s order dated 26.05.2023 in W.P. (C) No. 7510 of 2023. The said fixed deposit, along with the amounts received from the encashment of Bank Guarantees No. 180386IBGP00136 (₹78,66,000) and No. 180386IBGP00516 (₹86,94,000), are expressly excluded from the Company’s liquidation estate and the ongoing voluntary liquidation proceedings. During the course of hearing before this Tribunal on 10.06.25, it was stated by learned counsel for FCI that she is satisfied with the affidavit tendered by the Directors of the company and has no objection if the liquidation order is passed. Accordingly, it is seen that the proposed dissolution does not prejudice the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings involving the fixed deposits.

No report has been filed by IBBI.

On examining the Petition, documents annexed therewith and the submissions made by the Liquidator, it emerges that the affairs of the Company have been completely wound up, and its assets completely liquidated and there is no litigation pending against the Company.

In the light of the documents and facts placed on record, averments and the submissions made by the Applicant/ Liquidator, the Company deserves to be dissolved. Accordingly, this Tribunal directs that the Company shall be dissolved from the date of this order.

In terms of Regulation 41 Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Voluntary Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2017, the Applicant/ Liquidator shall preserve copy of all such records, which are required to give a complete account of the voluntary liquidation process and shall also preserve a physical or an electronic copy of the reports, registers and books of account referred to in Regulations 8 and 10 for at least eight years after the dissolution of the corporate person, either with himself or with an information utility.

The Applicant is directed to serve the copy of this judgement upon the Registrar of Companies (ROC), with whom the Company is registered, within fourteen days of receipt of this judgement. The ROC shall act as necessary upon receipt of a copy of this judgement.

The CP(IB) No.313/Chd/Hry/2024 is allowed and disposed of accordingly.