Mercedes Benz Financial Services India Private Limited v. Punit Kumar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 23.02.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.ANAND VENKATESH M/s.Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India Private Limited, 5th Floor, Plot 8, Baashyam Willow Square 9 & 10, First Street, Thiru Vi Ka Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.

Represented by its Authorised Signatory .... Applicant Vs.

Mr.Punit Kumar .... Respondent Arbitration Application under Order XIV Rule 8 of Original Side Rules r/w Section 9 (1) (ii) (a) (b) (d) & (e) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, praying to appoint employee of the applicant viz., Mr.Devesh Dixit, Manager, as Receiver to seize and take possession of the vehicle which is more fully described in the schedule to the judges summons which is lying in the custody of respondent or respondent's men, agents, servants from respondent premises or wherever found with Police aid and bread open of premises if necessary. For Applicant : Mr.D.Pradeep Kumar *****

ORDER

When the matter came up for hearing on 27.01.2026, this Court passed the following order:

"This application has been filed under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, [for brevity 'the 1/4

Act'] for appointment of a receiver to seize and deliver the vehicle from the respondent to the applicant, if necessary, with police protection and by breaking open the premises.

2. Heard Mr.D.Pradeep Kumar, learned counsel for applicant and carefully perused the materials available on record.

3. It is seen that an award has already been passed on 16.12.2020 directing the respondent to pay a sum of Rs.28,53,646.13/-. The specific case of the applicant is that till date, the award has not been challenged. The applicant is also not able to take possession of the vehicle. It is under these circumstances, the present application has been filed before this Court.

4. Considering the fact that an award has been passed and the applicant must be able to recover the amount from the respondent, this Court is inclined to appoint a receiver.

5. Accordingly, Mr.Devesh Dixit, Manager, is appointed as the receiver and the receiver is permitted to seize the vehicle from the respondent or wherever it is found and by breaking open the premises, if required with police assistance.

6. Notice to the respondent returnable by 23.02.2026. Private notice is also permitted.

List this application on 23.02.2026."

2. Private notice sent to the respondent has been returned with an endorsement "Unclaimed" and affidavit of service has also been filed. As the notice has been sent to the address given in the agreement, there is a deemed service on the respondent. The respondent is neither present nor represented through counsel. Hence, the apprehension raised on the side 2/4

of the applicant that the respondent is trying to secret the vehicle is prima facie established.

3. Learned counsel for applicant submitted that the subject vehicle is yet to be seized.

4. In view of the aforesaid submission, the order passed by this Court on 27.01.2026 is made absolute.

Accordingly, this application is disposed of. 23.02.2026 mp 3/4

N.ANAND VENKATESH, J.

mp 23.02.2026 4/4