NCLAT

CIRP against real estate developers must be confined to the specific project involved in the default.

Navin M Raheja vs Shravan Minocha And Ors & Ors.

NCLATJUDGMENT: April 10, 20262 MIN READSOURCE JUDGMENT
THE ORIGINAL LAWLENS SUMMARY
01

Facts

The Corporate Debtor (CD), M/s. Raheja Developers Ltd., launched an affordable group housing project named "Raheja Krishna Housing Scheme" in Gurugram

Source reference: para 2(ii)-(iii)

Under the Builder Buyer Agreement, possession was to be delivered by June 10, 2019

Source reference: para 2(v)

Upon default, 130 homebuyers (Financial Creditors in a class) filed a Section 7 application under the IBC

Source reference: para 2(vi)

The Adjudicating Authority (NCLT) admitted the CD into Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) on August 21, 2025

Source reference: para 1

The Appellant, a suspended director of the CD, challenged this order, proposing a settlement to refund the homebuyers with 9% interest

Source reference: para 16(xvi)

Simultaneously, various financial institutions (PNB, Edelweiss) and allottees from other projects sought intervention, arguing that the CIRP should encompass the entire company due to widespread defaults

Source reference: para 5-8
02

Issues

1. Whether the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) initiated against the Corporate Debtor should be confined specifically to the "Raheja Krishna Housing Scheme" project.

Source reference: para 2(xxii) / para 11

2. Whether the claims of financial institutions and intervenors regarding other projects should be entertained within the current insolvency proceedings.

Source reference: para 18
03

Law Applied

Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, regarding the initiation of CIRP by financial creditors

Source reference: para 1

Supreme Court's precedent in Mansi Brar Fernandes v. Shubha Sharma & Anr. (2025), which established that real estate insolvency should, as a rule, proceed on a project-specific basis rather than against the entire Corporate Debtor to protect solvent projects and genuine homebuyers

Source reference: para 14

Navin M. Raheja v. Vipul Jain & Ors. (2026), involving the same Corporate Debtor, where it was held that CIRP initiated by allottees of one project must be limited to that specific project to avoid jeopardizing other stakeholders

Source reference: para 13, 17
04

Reasoning

The court observed that the Section 7 applicants were exclusively allottees of the "Raheja Krishna Housing Scheme" and the default was project-specific

Source reference: para 10-11

Applying the principle of "Project-Wise CIRP," the court reasoned that subjecting the CD’s entire infrastructure and multiple projects to a collective insolvency process would cause "collateral prejudice" to homebuyers of other projects that might be viable

Source reference: para 14-15

The court noted that the IBC is a forum of last resort for revival, not a mere debt recovery mechanism; therefore, a balanced judicial approach is required

Source reference: para 13

Regarding intervenors like PNB and Edelweiss, the court determined that since the CIRP is now project-specific, the Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) must only accept claims pertaining to the "Krishna Housing Scheme"

Source reference: para 18

Financial creditors of other projects remain free to pursue independent legal remedies, ensuring that the insolvency of one project does not stall the development of others

Source reference: para 18-19
05

Holding

The NCLAT modified the NCLT's order dated August 21, 2025, and held that the CIRP against M/s. Raheja Developers Ltd. shall be confined strictly to the "Raheja Krishna Housing Scheme" project

The IRP was directed to issue a corrigendum to the public announcement in ‘Form-A’ to invite claims specifically for this project within 14 days

Source reference: para 19(ii)

The court granted liberty to Respondents 1 to 130 to file a Section 12A application if a settlement is reached

Source reference: para 19(v)

It further clarified that other creditors and financial institutions are free to prosecute independent proceedings regarding other projects, unaffected by this project-specific CIRP

Source reference: para 19(iv)
NCLAT

Original Court PDF

Navin M RahejavsShravan Minocha And Ors & Ors.

NCLAT · April 10, 2026

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