Madras High Court | Business Upturn

Refex Industries sees ₹3,567.22 lakh tax demand nullified by Madras High Court

Business Desk — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:30:28 +0000

Refex Industries Limited has announced a significant legal victory as the Hon’ble Madras High Court has quashed an income tax demand of ₹3,567.22 lakh for the Assessment Year 2016-17. The court’s decision nullifies the demand previously issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax – Central Circle 3(4), Chennai, on May 31, 2023.

The company had challenged the assessment order on the grounds that it was issued without providing a reasonable opportunity for Refex Industries to be heard, as required under section 144A of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Additionally, the company argued that no appropriate approval was obtained for issuing the notice.

After reviewing the submissions, the Madras High Court set aside the assessment order, effectively nullifying the tax demand. Refex Industries received the court’s order on April 28, 2026, marking a favourable outcome for the company.

This development is a significant relief for Refex Industries, as the quashing of the tax demand removes a substantial financial liability from its books.

Disclaimer: This article is based on a regulatory filing submitted to the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE).

Refex Industries sees Rs 3,567.22 lakh tax demand quashed by Madras High Court

Business Desk — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:59:28 +0000

Refex Industries has received a favourable verdict from the Hon’ble Madras High Court, which has quashed an income tax demand of ₹3,567.22 lakh for the assessment year 2016-17. This decision comes after the company challenged the assessment order issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax – Central Circle 3(4), Chennai, dated May 31, 2023.

The company had filed a writ petition before the Madras High Court, arguing that the assessment order was issued without providing a reasonable opportunity for the company to be heard, as required under section 144A of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Furthermore, Refex Industries contended that no appropriate approval was obtained for issuing the notice, which led to the tax demand.

After reviewing the submissions, the Madras High Court set aside the assessment order, thereby nullifying the tax demand of approximately ₹3,567.22 lakh. The order from the court was received by Refex Industries on April 28, 2026.

This development marks a significant relief for Refex Industries, as the substantial tax demand has been nullified, allowing the company to focus on its business operations without the burden of the disputed tax liability.

Disclaimer: This article is based on a regulatory filing submitted to the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE).

Madras HC refuses to grant permission for a special morning show for Thalapathy Vijay’s ‘Leo’

Shukrta Vaigankar — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 10:14:45 +0000

The film ‘Leo’ will be released in theatres on October 19, 2023. It will star Vijay in the lead with Trisha, a pair who will reunite on the big screen after 14 years apart. Sanjay Dutt has also been cast as the film’s antagonist.

Meanwhile, the producer, SS Lalith Kumar, petitioned the Madras High Court to enable the film to be exhibited at 4 a.m. in Tamil Nadu.

He filed a petition by stating, “I submit that, adhering to the regulation, I have submitted a representation letter dated September 15, 2023, to the Principal Secretary to Government, the Hon’ble Minister, and the Hon’ble Chief Minister, requesting permission to screen six shows on the opening day and five shows from October 20th to October 24th, 2023. On the opening day, i.e., October 19, 2023, the first show has been planned to be screened at 4 a.m. to cater for the insatiable desire of the hard-core fans, and from 7 a.m. onwards, October 20, 2023.”

However, the court denied the request, ruling that the film could not be shown at 4 a.m. The court requested that the Tamil Nadu government consider permitting the film to be shown at 7 a.m.

At the same time, producer Lalit Kumar and the Theatre Owners Association’s officers will meet with the Tamil Nadu government this evening. On this basis, the government will respond to the court by tomorrow.

As a result, it is believed that Vijay’s film will be well received on the Kerala side of the border. Tamil Nadu fans are anticipated to flock to Palakkad, Idukki, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram to see the film.

The movie is directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. Sanjay Dutt, Trisha, Priya Anand, and Mansoor Ali Khan in the lead and supporting roles. The music composition and the vocals are by Anirudh Ravichandher, and the first single of the film ‘Naa Ready’ bagged about 101 million views on YouTube.

Disney approaches Madras HC in Google In-App Billing Dispute: Report

Sidharth Badlani — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 13:09:22 +0000

A source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Tuesday that Walt Disney had petitioned the Madras High Court in India as part of an ongoing legal dispute against Google’s in-app billing scheme.

India’s competition commission opened an investigation into Google in May after several businesses claimed the service fee the American company collects for in-app purchases violates a previous antitrust regulation.

Google, which views India as a significant growth market, has previously stated that the service fee supported investments in the Google Play app store and the Android mobile operating system, ensuring that it was provided without charge, as well as developer tools and analytic services.

However, various companies have alleged that google uses it to create a monopoly. Reportedly, Google had a policy whereby all Android phones flagged a warning message if an app was downloaded on them from any source other than Google Play Store. Companies alleged that with this mechanism, Google deterred users from using any app store other than Google Play Store and then charged exorbitant fees from apps via its digital store.

Madras HC upholds ED’s right to take Minister Senthil Balaji into custody

Dixita Hazarika — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 12:46:10 +0000

The Madras High Court has delivered a significant verdict affirming the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) authority to take Minister Senthil Balaji into custody. The court’s decision, reached after a split verdict, supports the ED’s right to detain the minister. This development comes in the wake of Senthil Balaji’s arrest in connection with a cash-for-job scam.

As per sources, on Friday, Justice Karthikeyan said that ED had the right to take Senthil Balaji into custody.

The bench said that it cannot be denied that respondents can take custody for further investigation. The Enforcement Directorate, which is the respondent in the case, has the right to take custody.

Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy further clarified that Senthil Balaji should be incarcerated after his discharge from the hospital. Notably, the judge deemed the Habeas Corpus Petition as not maintainable, stating that the petitioner failed to demonstrate any grounds for invalidating the remand.

Justice Nisha Banu, during the hearing on 4th July, held that the Habeas Corpus Petition was maintainable and directed the police to release Balaji. However, the latest ruling by the Madras HC affirms the ED’s legal grounds for the arrest, upholding the charges related to the cash-for-job scam.

Minister Senthil Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on July 14. According to reports, amid the questioning by ED, Senthil Balaji complained of chest pain and he was taken to Omandurar Government Hospital. After doctors found that he needed immediate medical intervention and bypass surgery, he was shifted to Kavery Hospital where he underwent a bypass surgery.

Victoria Gowri sworn in as Additional Judge of Madras High Court

News Desk — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 07:39:56 +0000

Lekshmana Chandra Victoria Gowri, a lawyer who encountered resistance from a portion of the legal community on her appointment to the higher court, took the oath of office as the additional judge of the Madras High Court at 10.25 am on Tuesday.

Acting Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Justice T Raja administered the oath of office to Gowri after performing the customary procedures, which included reading the Warrant of Appointment granted by the President. In addition to Gowri, four other people took the oath of office to serve as additional High Court judges.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud heard the case. Earlier, the case was scheduled to be heard by a bench of justices Sanjeev Khanna and MM Sundresh.

The appointment of Victoria Gowri, a BJP official, as a judge of the high court was opposed by a group of 21 lawyers from the Madras High Court. They wrote to President Droupadi Murmu requesting that she return the dossier presented by the Supreme Court Collegium recommending Gowri’s appointment. The attorneys mentioned instances in which Victoria Gowri was seen making disrespectful statements about communities of colour. Her “regressive ideas” and “deep-rooted religious intolerance,” according to the lawyers, are what render her “unfit to be nominated as judge of the High Court.” They cited a 2018 RSS interview in which Victoria Gowri referred to Christianity as “white terror” and delivered a similar “distasteful rant” against Christians.

“The Collegium’s suggestion to nominate someone who is open about her disdain of minority communities will undoubtedly damages the public’s image of the judiciary’s neutrality. Can any Muslim or Christian plaintiff ever hope to receive justice in Ms. Gowri’s court, if she is elected as a judge, in light of her statements? Sought legal advice.

Gowri has been approved as a high court judge, and in two years, the collegium of the Supreme Court will evaluate her overall competence and appropriateness before voting on whether to affirm her as a permanent judge.

SpiceJet claims to have reached an agreement with Credit Suisse over payment of dues

Sathvika Chelakani — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 12:50:29 +0000

SpiceJet Ltd announced on Thursday that it has reached an in-principle agreement with Credit Suisse to settle a dispute, with the airline paying the settlement amount over time.

“SpiceJet had already deposited $5 million on the Hon’ble Madras High Court’s direction in the Credit Suisse case, and there is no adverse financial liability on the Company,” the airline said in a statement.

“The settlement entails the payment of the settlement amount over a mutually agreed-upon time period.” Credit Suisse took SpiceJet to the Madras High Court last year after the airline failed to make payments totalling more than $24 million to Swiss maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) service provider SR Technics. Credit Suisse was tasked with collecting the outstanding debts on behalf of the company.

Following a petition from Credit Suisse, the Madras high court ordered the liquidation of Spicejet in December. The Supreme Court, on the other hand, had stayed the order in January, giving the airline the three weeks it had requested to settle its dispute with Credit Suisse AG.

SpiceJet has largely been a loss-making airline over the last two years, reporting seven consecutive quarters of losses until September 30, 2021. The airline revealed a consolidated net profit of 42.45 crore for the three months ended 31 December, owing primarily to compensation it received for the grounding of Boeing 737Max planes.

Mounting losses have resulted in complete erosion of SpiceJet’s net worth, with its liabilities exceeding its assets by ₹6,347.10 crores as of the end of December, the auditors of the airline, Walker Chandiok &.Co LLP had said in a statement accompanying the results.

SpiceJet, which had faced a slew of lawsuits, primarily for failing to settle pending dues during the pandemic, announced settlements with De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (DHC), aircraft lessors CDB Aviation, and Avolon.

Tamil Nadu won’t be able to form a panel to go into impact of NEET without apex court nod

Govindraj Muttepawar — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 14:53:48 +0000

Madras High Court have noticed in Tuesday that the Tamil Nadu Government cannot constitute a committee for going Into the impact of the NEET aspirants wanting to do MBBS from the socially Backward classes on India without leave from the Supreme Court.

The bench of the Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Sethikumar Ramamoorthy said that there could be a little room for the state for setting up any commitee for the purpose of ascertaining whether the NEET-based admision processes has been prejudicially affecting the socially backward students on India.

The court had made this observation by studying the basis of the submissions which were made by the petitioner that any recommendations made by the committee cannot be implemented in the view of of the order passed by the the supreme Court on the national eligibility entrance test (NEET). After this statement the court gave Tamil Nadu Government which time to respond to this plea.

The PIL moved by BJP state secretary K Nagarajan seeking to quash the order which was issued by Tamil Nadu Government. When the plea came up for hearing, the advocate R Shunmugasundaram argued that the constitution for the committee was a policy decision for the state backed by the election manifesto by the ruling party.

Before adjourning the session the bench said that maybe if this is contrary to the Supreme court order, then this plea cannot be permitted.

Madras HC gives some interim relief to LVB shareholders but refuses to interfere in merger

Shalmali Bhagwat — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 05:20:26 +0000

The Madras High Court has released an interim order giving certain directions to protect the interests of the Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) shareholders. The court, however, refused to interfere in the amalgamation of the bank with DBS.

In its interim order, Madras HC has dictated that no further prejudicial action should be taken against the LVB shareholders by the respondents, legal news portal, Bar and Bench. Also, DBS Bank should submit an undertaking in the court that they will pay the designated amount, in case the court concludes and orders it to provide compensation to LVB.

In addition to that, like security, DBS Bank should keep a separate reserve fund in its books of account, containing amount equivalent to the face value of shares of the transferor company (LVB) and maintain the same subject to further orders. A bench comprising justices Dr Vineet Kothari and MS Ramesh issued the interim directions.

Further, the court added that even if the authorities can bring down the share value during an amalgamation under Section 45 of the Banking Regulation Act, reducing it to 0 or negative value cannot be done without citing any strong reasons.

On Thursday, Moneycontrol first reported that four more investors plan to file separate petitions in the Madras High Court, approaching the judiciary against certain provisions in the LVB-DBS Bank amalgamation scheme, chiefly the clause that writes off all equity investments. The main concern for investors and promoters is the valuation part of the scheme.

On Thursday, the Bombay High Court turned down the petition filed by investors and promoters to stay the DBS-LVB merger scheme. The court, however, said the promoters’ claim, being a monetary claim, can be considered at the time of disposal of petitions. Promoters are hopeful that their plea shall be addressed on account of the monetary loss following equity write off.

The bank’s business has contracted over the years. Total business summed up to Rs 37,595 crore at the end of September 2020, as against Rs 47,115 crore at the end of September 2019. The net loss after tax was placed at Rs 396.99 crore for the quarter ended September 30, as against a net loss of Rs 357.18 crore in the year-ago quarter.

Major shareholders in the LVB include Indiabulls Housing Finance (4.99 per cent), Prolific Finvest Private Ltd (3.36 percent), Srei Infrastructure Finance (3.34 percent), MN Dastur and Co Pvt Ltd (1.89 percent), Capri Global Holdings Pvt Ltd (1.82 percent), Capri Global Advisory Services (2 percent), Boyance Infrastructure Pvt Ltd (1.36 percent) and Trinity Alternative Investment Managers (1.61 percent).

AR Rahman receives tax invading notice from Madras HC

Disha Deepa Jani — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 10:15:23 +0000

Madras High court has issued a notice to composer AR Rahman based on an appeal filed by the Income Tax department. In the appeal, the IT department stated that AR Rahman had evaded tax in individual capacity by allegedly transferring his earnings of ₹3.47 crore to his charitable trust. The IT department has found inconsistencies in Rahman’s tax filing for the year 2011-12. The department had to move to the Madras High court mentioning that AR Rahman had forwarded remuneration of ₹3.47 crore to AR Rahman Foundation. The huge amount was his salary for composing ringtones for a UK-based telecom company called Libra mobiles. The incident is said to have happened in 2011, and the three-year contract was to compose exclusive ringtones for the company.

The legal practitioner of the Income Tax department said that the income for work has to be received in Rahman’s individual account which is taxable. After the deduction of income tax is made it can be moved to the charitable trust. A division bench of Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice V Bhavani Subbaroyan had sent the notice to composer AR Rahman.

In February, the Madras HC had granted a temporary stay on the order passed by the Commissioner of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Central Excise (CE) asking AR Rahman to pay a sum of ₹6.79 crore as arrear and an additional penalty of ₹6.79 crore.

The GST officials said that Rahman earned income by composing for movies and receiving royalties for his music work. According to the GST council, the services were taxable and claimed that the composer failed to pay service tax for the same.

Madras HC refuses Vedanta’s plea to re-open the Tuticorin Sterlite Copper factory

Pravin Suryawanshi — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 07:28:36 +0000

BENGALURU: On Tuesday, the Madras High Court dismissed the petition by Vedanta Resources Plc to challenge the March 2018 closure order of the Sterlite Copper smelter plant Tamil Nadu government in Tuticorin, about 610 km from Chennai, in March 2018.

The order comes as a major setback for the London-based conglomerate that had approached the HC in February last year after the Supreme Court rejected a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order allowing the plant to resume operations.

The order comes seven months after the HC reserved its judgment in the controversial case.

The Madras High Court ordered the closure of the Sterlite Copper smelter in Tuticorin on 28 March 2018,
after killing at least 11 people and injuring more than 50 others in police fire to suppress the three-month protest against the copper smelter factory. The death toll went up to 13 subsequently as more people succumbed to bullet wounds and other injuries that sparked off angry reactions from across the country.