India

Debt-stricken mobile carrier Vodafone Idea is looking at funding deals with potential investors after receiving a relief package from the Indian government, Capacity Media reported. The telecoms operator has a net debt of US$25.86 billion (1.91 trillion rupees), including government dues of 1.68 trillion rupees. The chairman of the company, Kumar Mangalam Birla, had previously offered to transfer the group’s entire shareholding to the government to help stave off collapse. Last week, the Indian government approved a relief package for the country's struggling telecoms sector.

There have been many heated debates of late about the 90% or higher haircuts that lenders have taken in several high-profile bankruptcy resolutions, the New Indian Express reported. Erstwhile promoters, resolution professionals and even the committee of creditors have all been blamed by turns for the state of affairs. Opinion writers have written angry columns, and TV channels have carried heated panel discussions.

Amazon has begun an investigation into allegations of corruption by its legal representatives in India and has placed a senior member of the team on leave, The Morning Context reported. The company later issued a statement, saying it does not tolerate corruption and will investigate all such allegations fully. The statement came in response to a report by The Morning Context, which said, citing three sources, that Amazon has begun an internal investigation into allegations that its legal representatives in India used legal fees paid by the company to pay bribes.

In a rare plea, the chief judge at India’s bankruptcy appeals court petitioned the Supreme Court to let him work for three more days even after his term was cut short by the federal government, Bloomberg News reported. A.I.S. Cheema seeks three more days to enable him to give five verdicts and then retire, his lawyer told the Supreme Court Thursday. Cheema was, until last week, the acting chairman of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal due to retire Sept. 20, before the government abruptly named his replacement and cut short his term.

In yet another setback for Vedanta's plans to acquire debt-ridden Videocon Industries, lenders which had agreed to Twin Star Technologies' (TST) resolution plan want to reconsider it, citing up to 95% haircuts, Times Now News reported. National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has sought a reply from Vedanta's subsidiary TST on a request by a Bank of Maharashtra-led Committee of Creditors (CoC), which wants a fresh round of bidding for the resolution plan. NCLAT will consider CoC's request alleging low payout on Sept. 27 as TST sought time to reply.