“Sat Over Our Order”: NCLAT Seeks ISPT India IRP's Reply In Contempt Case
Shilpa Soman
20 Jan 2026 3:47 PM IST
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) at Chennai has sought a reply from Anil Kumar Khicha, the Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) of ISPT India Pvt Ltd, in contempt proceedings after the tribunal earlier found that an email issued by him in the insolvency proceedings was contemptuous.
A bench comprising Judicial Member Justice Sharad Kumar Sharma and Technical Member Jatindranath Swain is dealing with the contempt proceedings arising from the insolvency proceedings of ISPT India Pvt Ltd.
The contempt proceedings arise from two company appeals filed by Ramki Ramakrishnen, a suspended director of ISPT India Pvt Ltd, challenging an order of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Chennai, which had admitted the company into insolvency proceedings.
On October 27, 2025, the NCLAT passed an interim order keeping the NCLT's admission order in abeyance.
Despite having knowledge of this interim order, the tribunal noted that the IRP issued an email communication dated November 10, 2025, in which he assigned his own interpretation to the appellate tribunal's order and stated that it did not expressly direct the restoration of management, control, and custody of the corporate debtor to the erstwhile board of directors.
Taking exception to this communication, the NCLAT observed that the IRP had “sat over” its order by assigning his own alternative interpretation and held that the observation made in the email was "contemptuous." This led the tribunal to draw suo motu contempt against him.
The contempt petition was taken up on January 13, 2026, when the IRP entered an appearance through counsel. The tribunal granted him two weeks' time to file a reply explaining his conduct.
The matter has been listed for further orders on January 29, 2026. The NCLAT has also directed that the interim order passed earlier in the company appeals shall continue to operate until the next date of hearing.
For IRP: Advocate Raghav Rajeev Menon