Dubai, Jul 25: The founder of NMC Health, BR Shetty, has had a worldwide freezing order placed on his assets at the request of a lender that claims he has defaulted on a loan of more than $8 million (Dh29.4m).
The order was granted to Credit Europe Bank (Dubai) last month ahead of a claim filed at the DIFC Courts against Mr Shetty, New Medical Centre Trading and NMC Healthcare.
The lender said in its claim they “are jointly and severally liable” for the repayment of money initially secured through a credit agreement in December 2013 and renegotiated in December last year. Credit Europe Bank is an Amsterdam-headquartered institution specialising in trade and commodities finance with operations in nine countries.
The credit agreement was guaranteed by two security cheques which the bank said in its claim were signed by Mr Shetty – one drawn on his personal account and another on the account of New Medical Centre Trading – that have been "dishonoured upon presentation due to insufficient funds".
The bank claimed Mr Shetty “has now fled the jurisdiction of the UAE to India” and that there was a risk of his “substantial” assets in the Emirates being dissipated.
The assets frozen include properties in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as shares in NMC Health, Finablr, BRS Investment Holdings and other companies. It allows for up to $7,000 per week to be spent on “ordinary living expenses and reasonable sum[s] on legal advice and representation”, a DIFC Courts document granting the freezing order shows.
Credit Europe Bank declined to comment when contacted by The National, stating it does not comment on ongoing litigation proceedings. Representatives for Mr Shetty and for NMC Healthcare, which is now being run by administrators Alvarez & Marsal, also declined to comment.
NMC Healthcare was founded by Mr Shetty in 1975 and grew from a single hospital into the UAE’s biggest privately-owned healthcare operator, which employed 2,000 doctors and 20,000 other staff. The company was listed on the London stock exchange and at its peak was valued at £8.58 billion (Dh40bn). However, its shares slumped after short seller Muddy Waters Research issued a report in December 2019 alleging the company had inflated its cash balances, overpaid for assets and understated its debts. This led to a string of damaging revelations by the company, including the fact that its debt was materially higher – at $6.6bn – than the $2.1bn on its balance sheet. NMC Healthcare was placed into administration in April by its biggest creditor, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, but its UAE businesses continue to trade as a going concern.
Mr Shetty said in a statement issued in April that he has been a victim of fraud committed by "a small group of current and former executives” at companies owned by him. He said bank accounts were created in his name and transactions were made without his knowledge, and that loans, cheques and bank transfers were also fraudulently guaranteed in his name using his forged signature.
In response to the claim filed by Credit Europe Bank (Dubai) at the DIFC Courts, Mr Shetty says he did not personally guarantee loans made to NMC Trading or NMC Healthcare and that the signatures used on cheques guaranteeing the loans are forgeries. His defence cites the opinion of “Dr Al Bah, an independent, experienced and qualified forensic document examiner”, that someone other than Mr Shetty signed the lending agreements and cheques.
An application by NMC Trading and NMC Healthcare to the DIFC Courts to have the claim against it heard in private for fear of triggering claims by other lenders – the group owes money to around 80 local, regional and international lenders – was dismissed, given that the appointment of administrators at the group and allegations of fraud at the company are already in the public domain.
Both companies have indicated to DIFC Courts that they intend to contest the claim against them.
The accused has been identified as Chidananda Acharya (48), a resident of Perla and proprietor of a jewellery workshop.
Comments
i want ask the government...the apex ,the judges (honorable)of hcourt civil court, and above i want all my lawyer brothers, please dont e3ver play with your profession ,REMEMBER SOMEBODY WATCHING YOU 24 HRS ,YOU ALWAYS PRAY TO AND U HAVE SHARDHA, TRY PROVE THE TRUTH ... WHAT HE WILL GET OR SHOULD GET, OR WHETHER HE WILL RELEASE ON BAIL.... PEOPLE MAKE JUDGEMENT..THANKS.
inspired from whome? head of the department?
Rather than killing innocent and those who do hard work.. The GAU-RAKSHAHS should target such kind of CRIMINALs who deosnt recognise even a 6 year old child....
EVIL is cheddis agenda... which will effect the society in the near Future if we did not voice out or protest against increasing criminals in our society...
Stop arresting innocent and start arresting the Real criminals who are out of trained in NAGPUR....
Please chop his tool immediately, Na rahe ga bhans na bajege bansuri
This may be a fake news! For AUTHENTIC & CREDIBLE news, please check Notorious Coastal Kannada daily, sure this man had a challenge with his wife to molest the child, he did not have any bad intention as he is Deshpremi and proud son of Gomatha, and member of homo brigade. Before reaching the jail he might have secured bail.
Naren, which community does this bas...rd belongs to.... so don't ever target or point out particular religion and hurt the sentiments.
This is the true colour of these Gau Rakshaks
They don't respect women and yet talk of protecting animal
Eager to see if people from pump well ,kalladka and kotian stage protest
One more feather in the cap of so called Nationalists. Sad part is the law of the land turning blind, dumb and deaf towards these fringe organization. Its beyond ones imagination that why they are not yet banned.
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