NCLAT held that the amount disbursed by the Appellant NBFC to...

NCLAT held that the amount disbursed by the Appellant NBFC to the Respondent corporate entity constituted a "financial debt" under S.5(8) IBC, as it was a commercial borrowing for time value of money, and any breach of RBI guidelines did not negate its character as financial debt. Relying on the real nature of the transaction, as evidenced by bank statements, post-dated cheques and correspondence acknowledging liability and interest, NCLAT found the debt remained unpaid. The order of the Adjudicating Authority dated 31.03.2022 rejecting the S.7 application was set aside, and the S.7 petition revived. In the interest of justice, the Corporate Debtor was granted three months to discharge the outstanding debt with 8% interest and file proof before the Adjudicating Authority.