The DAMEPL Anil Ambani Supreme Court DMRC arbitration refund case saw the Supreme Court question the company’s influence during proceedings over the recovery of ₹2,599 crore from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant made the observations during proceedings on July 21, 2026.
The Bench also included Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi.
The court was hearing applications linked to the refund of money paid by DMRC in the long-running arbitration dispute.
Supreme Court Questions Public Support for DAMEPL
The Supreme Court observed that Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited (DAMEPL) appeared to be “too influential.”
DAMEPL is an entity linked to the Anil Ambani group.
The court noted that public platforms continued to support the company.
This support continued even after the Supreme Court set aside the arbitral award.
The award had earlier reached nearly ₹8,000 crore.
The Bench expressed surprise at the continued public statements supporting the judgment debtor.
Banks Seek Time for Internal Settlement
The observations came after lenders sought more time to resolve their internal issues.
Attorney General for India R. Venkataramani and Additional Solicitor General N. Venkataraman represented the lending institutions.
They requested an adjournment to facilitate discussions among the banks.
Counsel told the court that progress had been made towards an internal arrangement.
The lenders also expressed a desire to avoid conflict among the financial institutions.
The Bench, however, pointed out that the banks were not the primary judgment debtors in the dispute.
Senior counsel later acknowledged that the judgment debtor was a Reliance group company.
The court then questioned the unusually strong external support for the entity.
₹2,599 Crore Refund and Contempt Proceedings
Contempt proceedings remain pending against DAMEPL and its corporate officers.
The proceedings also involve Axis Bank.
The case concerns the alleged failure to refund approximately ₹2,599 crore, along with accrued interest.
The banks have disputed their liability as judgment debtors.
They maintain that they acted as lenders under an escrow arrangement.
According to the banks, the funds received went towards repayment of earlier loan advances.
They argue that they did not retain the money as judgment debtors.
Long-Running Delhi Airport Metro Dispute
The dispute began with a 2008 concession agreement between DMRC and DAMEPL.
The agreement concerned the operation of the Delhi Airport Express Metro Line.
DAMEPL terminated the agreement in 2012.
The company cited unresolved structural defects as the reason for the termination.
An arbitral tribunal ruled in favour of DAMEPL in 2017.
The tribunal initially awarded ₹2,782.33 crore, along with interest.
By 2022, the amount had grown to nearly ₹8,000 crore.
The Delhi High Court later partially set aside the award.
The Supreme Court restored the award in 2021.
Supreme Court Reverses Earlier Position
In April 2024, the Supreme Court allowed DMRC’s curative petition.
The court recalled its earlier judgment.
It held that enforcing the award had caused a “grave miscarriage of justice.”
The court found that the award imposed an unviable financial burden on a public utility.
It therefore ordered the end of execution proceedings.
The court also directed the full refund of amounts paid under coercive judicial orders.
The DAMEPL Anil Ambani Supreme Court DMRC arbitration refund dispute continues to involve questions over restitution, lender liability, and compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions.
