In a significant ruling, the Hon’ble Bombay High Court has set aside an earlier order granting Mauj Mobile Private Limited, founded by Anupam Mittal of Shark Tank India, leave to defend in a commercial suit brought by Lebanon-based company Mobile Arts Private Limited. The suit, which involves unpaid advertising service fees for Mauj Mobile brands “Gamesbond” and “Video Vogue”, was filed by Advocate Pankaj Mehta of Delhi-based Fortune Legal Advocates.

The commercial dispute centers around outstanding payments totaling over $115,550 plus 6% interest, accrued over the past four years. Mobile Arts, a digital advertising service provider, initiated the suit after Mauj Mobile allegedly failed to clear dues for promotional services provided across the UAE and Middle East.

A key factor in the court’s decision was email correspondence between the parties, in which Mauj Mobile allegedly implied that legal proceedings might be futile. The emails reportedly hinted that even if Mobile Arts secured a favorable judgment, it might not yield tangible results if Mauj Mobile ceased operations, a tactic that the court viewed as an attempt to discourage legal recourse.

In its ruling, the Bombay High Court emphasized the importance of financial accountability and honoring contractual obligations. The Court ruled that Mauj Mobile is not entitled to any form of leave to defend, conditional or otherwise, making the summons for judgment absolute. This firm stance underscores the Court’s message on enforcing prompt financial commitments within the commercial sector.

“This judgment sends a strong signal that businesses must fulfill their contractual obligations in a timely and responsible manner,” said Advocate Pankaj Mehta of Fortune Legal. “The Court has made clear that intimidation tactics or delaying payments will not be tolerated.”

The Court’s decision is expected to set a precedent in commercial and digital advertising law, with potential implications for businesses engaging in cross-border service agreements. The ruling reinforces the principle that financial commitments, especially in high-growth sectors such as digital advertising, must be met promptly to maintain trust and stability in the market.