Swiss firm sends legal notice to Maharashtra over unpaid bills Rs 1.58 crore dues: Sources

A Switzerland-based firm has issued a legal notice to the Maharashtra government over alleged non-payment of dues amounting to Rs 1.58 crore for services provided to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and other state officials during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, sources said.

The notice, sent on August 28 by the JURIS WIZ legal firm on behalf of SKAAH GmbH, was addressed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, other government officials, and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC).

Copies of the notice were also forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Swiss Embassy.

The legal notice pertains to unpaid dues totalling Rs 1,58,64,625.90 for services rendered to a delegation led by the Maharashtra Chief Minister, along with other state ministers and officials during the WEF's 54th Annual Meeting in Davos in January this year.

Both the Indian and Swiss embassies have been made aware of the situation, an official said on the condition of anonymity.

In the notice, SKAAH GmbH expressed concern over the financial damage caused by the non-payment, stating that it has severely affected the company’s credit standing. "Despite the trust placed in MIDC as a government entity, the prolonged delay in clearing the payments has caused significant harm to SKAAH GmbH," the notice read.

A company official revealed that SKAAH has been chasing the payment since January, particularly for additional expenses incurred, but has yet to receive the full



amount.

The non-payment has led to disruptions in services, with several providers, including drivers, now refusing to extend their services to Maharashtra government officials. SKAAH GmbH has sought an amicable resolution but warned of broader international consequences if the issue remains unresolved.

"This prolonged delay not only threatens the reputation of SKAAH GmbH but may also have ramifications for international relations between India and Switzerland," the notice added.

Vishal Pande of JURIS WIZ, representing SKAAH GmbH, confirmed to India Today, "The payment to my client is still outstanding. While MIDC has acknowledged our legal notice, they have yet to respond. As a result, we cannot disclose further details at this time."

The issue has also drawn political attention with Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar slamming the Eknathi Shinde-led state government over the impact of the non-payment on Maharashtra's image, especially regarding its participation in international forums like Davos.

"Such insolence by the Maharashtra government could tarnish Maharashtra's reputation at a forum like Davos, which is important for international investment and sends a wrong message to investors," Pawar posted on X.

In response, Industries Minister Uday Samant remarked, "In his first term as MLA, Rohit Pawar has become a significant leader. There's competition within the MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) to raise such issues. Our legal team will address the notice in due course".