One unanswered email led to a Rs 45 lakh court order against this e-waste firm

A single unanswered promise turned into a Rs 45.2 lakh courtroom loss for a Uttar Pradesh-based e-waste recycler, after Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages took the company to court over unpaid GST dues.

The relationship began well enough in March 2023, when Coca-Cola’s Kodigehalli Gate unit signed on Hin Green E-Waste Recycling Pvt Ltd to handle the collection, removal and disposal of e-waste from all its offices and facilities across India.

The trouble started when Coca-Cola discovered a tax error. Invoices for financial year 2022-23 had been billed at 5% GST, but the correct rate, Coca-Cola found on reviewing its annual returns, was 18%, retrospectively applicable from 18 July. The company issued a revised scrap-item table, a credit note and a revised debit note to correct the shortfall.

It also emailed the recycler, reminding it to claim input tax credit before filing its October 2023 returns. The recycler replied, acknowledging receipt and promising to furnish details ‘in due course’. That promise was never kept, and on 20 March 2024, the recycler flatly denied it owed anything at all.

A legal notice sent on 15 July 2025 went unanswered, and a pre-institution mediation attempt failed when the recycler didn’t turn up, closing the process as a ‘non-starter’.

Coca-Cola sued in March 2026. The recycler appeared through counsel but filed no written statement of defence. 85th additional city civil and sessions judge Arjun S Mallur at the Commercial Court ruled that the unchallenged evidence established the recycler’s liability, ordering it to pay Rs 45.2 lakh with 12% annual interest from the date of the suit until realisation, plus costs.

Wikimedia Commons/by M0tty