Viceroy Hotels wins SAFEMA appeal, Hyderabad Marriott property detached

Viceroy Hotels Ltd has received a favorable order from the Appellate Tribunal under The Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976 (SAFEMA). The Tribunal, in its order dated April 23, 2026, allowed the company's appeal, setting aside the Adjudicating Authority's order that had confirmed the provisional attachment of certain immovable and movable properties, including the Courtyard by Marriott in Hyderabad. The decision grants Viceroy Hotels immunity under Section 32A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, following the successful completion of its Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) and a change in management. The Tribunal noted that the claims forming the basis of the alleged proceeds of crime were already rejected by NCLT/NCLAT and the resolution plan fully implemented. This ruling brings an end to long-standing litigation with the Enforcement Directorate, providing finality and relief to the company.