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India loses arbitration case to Devas in The Hague, damages could be $1 Billion

by IBNS 26 Jul 2016, 10:25 am

The Hague, July 26 (IBNS) India has lost a big arbitration case in the International Tribunal in The Hague for cancelling a satellites and spectrum deal with Devas Multimedia and might end up paying a billion dollars in damages, said reports.

The International Tribunal in The Hague passed a verdict which is against the Indian government and went in favour of Devas Multimedia. The contract was cancelled in 2005 by Antrix Corporation Limited which is the commercial wing of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). 
 
Antrix had signed a deal with Devas Multimedia in 2005 to build two satellites on which Devas would lease transponders in India. Bundled into the deal was 70 MHz of S-Band spectrum which was allegedly "grossly underpriced" at Rs 1000 crore. 
 
Former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair among others were blamed for their roles in the deal, triggering a row as Nair cried foul and said it was a conspiracy.