3 weeks ago
Singapore Court Rejects CEO's Claim for Ex-Girlfriend's Expenses
Chander Agarwal and Felicia Lee were in a relationship that began in 2022.
During that time, Agarwal paid for many expensive things for Lee.
These included luxury items, holidays, travel, insurance and other personal expenses.
After they broke up, Agarwal said the money had been loans that Lee should repay.
Lee disagreed and denied signing the repayment document.
The judge found that the evidence mostly showed gifts rather than loans.
The court also said Agarwal had willingly paid for the expenses while they were together.
Agarwal lost the case and must pay Lee's legal costs.
TCI Express CEO Chander Agarwal sought repayment of nearly $370,000 spent during his relationship with Felicia Lee.
Agarwal claimed the payments were interest-free loans, while Lee disputed the alleged repayment agreement.
The court found that most of the spending consisted of gifts and voluntarily paid expenses.
The disputed spending included luxury goods, travel, insurance, credit-card expenses, education and a feng shui consultation.
The Singapore High Court dismissed Agarwal's claim and ordered him to pay Lee's legal costs.
- Who
- Chander Agarwal, CEO and managing director of TCI Express Limited, and his former girlfriend Felicia Lee.
- What
- Agarwal's claim for repayment of nearly $370,000 in relationship-related expenses was dismissed.
- Where
- The case was heard in the Singapore High Court.
- When
- They met in 2019, began their relationship in September 2022, and separated in December 2023; the court ruling followed the dispute.
- Why
- Agarwal said the payments were interest-free loans, but the court found insufficient proof of loans or a repayment promise and judged most payments to be gifts.
Agarwal's Claim
Lee and Court's Position
Nature of the payments
Agarwal's Claim
Agarwal argued that the money he spent or provided during the relationship was given as interest-free loans that Lee had to repay.
Lee and Court's Position
Lee disputed the repayment claim, and the court found the payments were mostly gifts and willingly paid expenses.
Repayment agreement
Agarwal's Claim
Agarwal relied on a handwritten document that he said showed Lee had agreed to repay the money.
Lee and Court's Position
Lee denied signing the document, and the court found that Agarwal did not provide adequate proof of a repayment agreement.
Feng shui consultation
Agarwal's Claim
Agarwal argued that the approximately S$17,000 payment was a loan and said he did not believe in feng shui.
Lee and Court's Position
The judge noted that Agarwal had personally arranged the service, supporting the view that he voluntarily paid for it.
Key facts
- Amount claimed
- Nearly $370,000, described in the headline as approximately ₹3.5 crore
- Claimant
- Chander Agarwal
- Respondent
- Felicia Lee
- Relationship period
- September 2022 to December 2023
- Major expenses
- Luxury goods, first-class travel, overseas holidays, insurance, personal credit-card spending and an executive programme
- Additional payment
- About S$17,000 for a feng shui consultant
- Outcome
- Claim dismissed; Agarwal ordered to pay Lee's legal costs
Sources
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