The Delhi High Court has directed Kotak Mahindra Bank to ensure that the total minimum balance in three accounts of the Embassy of Afghanistan shall not be less than ₹1.8 crores, the arbitral award passed in favour of a firm, keeping in view the prevalent political situation there.
The court in June had directed the embassy to file affidavits disclosing the assets owned and held by it in India and also ordered it to deposit the award amounts with the Registrar General of the court within four weeks. The latest order from the court has been passed in an application seeking attachment of movable and immovable assets of the embassy. Delhi HC issues notice to Afghanistan Embassy over a petition seeking attachment of movable, immovable assets.
The high court noted that the arbitral award pertained to 2018 and despite this year’s June 18 directions of the high court, the embassy’s counsel was unable to disclose its assets and pleaded he has no instructions. The KLA construction company has the aforesaid amount is due as on date. The court said that the embassy would be at liberty to approach it in case of any exigency. It listed the case for hearing on September 13, 2020, and asked the counsel representing the embassy to seek instructions before the next date of hearing.
