Karnal, 22 July 2025:
In a major development in a commercial dispute involving singer and rapper Aditya Prateek Singh alias Badshah, the Hon’ble Commercial Court (ADJ-1), Karnal, has ordered the respondent to secure a total amount of ₹2.20 crore through fixed deposits, as interim protection in an arbitration claim filed by Petitioner Firm.
The order was passed in Arb. Petition No. 47/2024, filed under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, seeking urgent interim relief. The Court observed that although the respondent had previously furnished a Fixed Deposit Receipt (FDR) worth ₹1.70 crore, the total claim raised by Petitioner stood at ₹2.88 crore, necessitating further security. Consequently, the Court has directed Badshah to deposit an additional ₹50 lakh as FDR within 60 days.
Key Background
The dispute arises from a “Producer & Line Producer Work for Hire Agreement” dated 30 June 2021, executed between Petitioner and Respondent for the music video “Baawla”, which was successfully released on 28 July 2021. Despite this, Petitioner alleged that Badshah failed to pay contractual dues amounting to ₹2,00,60,000 plus GST and additional interest, costs, and charges ,aggregating to a total claim of ₹2,88,28,986.
Court’s Critical Observations
In its judgment, the Court noted:
“If respondent No.1 is not interested in sharing details of his properties, then, from his conduct, apprehension cannot be ruled out that he may transfer, alienate or sell his entire estate or may withdraw entire balance from bank-accounts to defeat the claim of the petitioner firm”
Finding a strong prima facie case, and that irreparable loss could be caused to Petitioner without adequate security, the Court held that the statutory conditions under Section 9 of the Arbitration Act and Order 38 Rule 5 CPC were satisfied.
The Court has restrained encashment or creation of any encumbrance on both the ₹1.70 crore and ₹50 lakh FDRs, and granted liberty to the petitioner to serve the order on the concerned bank.
