The Delhi High Court has dealt a significant blow to budget airline SpiceJet by rejecting its review plea regarding a ₹144.5 crore deposit required in an ongoing arbitration dispute with Kalanithi Maran and KAL Airways Pvt. Ltd. The court imposed a cost of ₹50,000 on SpiceJet for filing the petition. SpiceJet, struggling with liquidity issues exacerbated by rising aviation fuel prices and regional conflicts, sought to substitute the cash deposit with a commercial property in Gurugram valued at approximately ₹148 crore. However, the court insisted on a cash deposit, emphasizing the need for compliance with its earlier orders. The dispute traces back to January 2015, when Maran transferred his stake in SpiceJet to Ajay Singh amid financial distress. Despite the airline's claims of having already paid around ₹730 crore, disputes over outstanding dues continue, with KAL Airways asserting that SpiceJet's liabilities exceed ₹400 crore. The ongoing legal battles have led to significant operational disruptions, affecting around 22,000 passengers and 7,000 employees.