Whether Operational Creditor has priority in payment in distribution under Section 53 of IBC over Unsecured Financial Creditor who is a related party of the Corporate Debtor? – Times Innovative Media Ltd. Vs. Pawan Kumar Aggarwal (Liquidator) and Anr. – NCLAT New Delhi
Hon’ble NCLAT held that:
(i) On plain reading of Section 53(1), it is clear that financial debts owed to unsecured creditors ranked higher than debt of operational creditor.
(ii) Scheme of Regulations 2016 does not indicate that related party is excluded from filing a claim.
(iii) Appellant cannot claim any priority in distribution of assets of the corporate debtor as compared to unsecured financial creditor.