Xiaomi Approaches Karnataka High Court Again Over Seizure Of Assets
The ED had earlier this year ordered the seizure of Rs 5,551.27 crore in the accounts of Xiaomi for allegedly violating FEMA rules.
Chinese consumer electronics company Xiaomi Technology India Pvt. has once again approached the Karnataka High Court.
In a petition filed on Oct. 3, the company has challenged the Sept. 29, 2022 order of the Foreign Exchange Management Act Competent Authority which confirmed the April 29 seizure order of the Enforcement Directorate.
The Enforcement Directorate had earlier this year ordered the seizure of Rs 5,551.3 crore in the accounts of Xiaomi for allegedly violating FEMA rules and transferring money in the guise of royalty to three companies outside India.
The company had approached the high court earlier this year against this order. The high court had, however, ordered it to approach the competent authority under FEMA.
On Thursday, the vacation bench of Justice NS Sanjay Gowda heard the petition by Xiaomi. Xiaomi sought an interim order but had not produced the competent authority's order copy. It sought for dispensation of the same.
The high court, however, ordered, "Request made for dispensation of production of certified copies of impugned seizure order is granted subject to production of the certified copies within a period of four weeks." Notices for the respondents, Ministry of Finance and Directorate of Enforcement were ordered to be issued.
Additional Solicitor General MB Nargund and advocate Madhukar Deshpande pointed out to the high court that the company had to approach the Appellate Authority against the competent authority order, rather than approach the high court.
In the new petition, Xiaomi has challenged the competent authority's order on grounds that representative of a foreign bank was not allowed to be examined during the hearing. The company's advocate argued that since the petition has also challenged the validity of Section 37A of FEMA which relates to assets held outside India by a company, the petition was maintainable.
On the other hand, Deshpande submitted that the company had already withdrawn most of the money that was seized. The high court had in the petition filed earlier this year allowed the company to use the money for its day-to-day activities but forbade it to use it to make payment of royalties.
The advocate pointed out that there was only Rs 1,900 crore in the accounts from the earlier Rs 5,551.3 crore.
The court orally observed that an interim order in favour of the company cannot be granted unless it provides a bank guarantee for the entire amount that was originally ordered to be seized by the Enforcement Directorate.
The hearing of the case was adjourned to Oct. 14.