Assam: Vidya Caterers denies payment dispute claims linked to IOCL-AOD canteen
Digboi: Food service and event catering company Vidya Caterers has denied allegations made by several local suppliers in Digboi regarding alleged pending dues linked to the IOCL-AOD canteen operations in Assam’s Tinsukia district.
In a formal response submitted after representations by suppliers were forwarded to the company, Vidya Caterers described the allegations as “unilateral, incomplete, commercially disputed, and misleading in nature.”
The company stated that the amounts claimed by the suppliers “cannot be construed as admitted liabilities,” citing unresolved issues related to GST compliance discrepancies, invoice reconciliation, unsupported billing claims, quantity mismatches, unauthorized supplies, quality concerns, and pending statutory verification.
Vidya Caterers denied allegations made by grocery supplier Shanti Traders, stating that discrepancies were found during reconciliation of accounts, particularly concerning GST compliance, invoice matching, statutory filings, and supporting documentation.
According to the company, requests had already been made to the supplier for rectification of GST-related mismatches and submission of statutory records. It said payments were kept pending solely due to reconciliation and verification processes.
The company also rejected allegations made by drinking water supplier Gautam Enterprise, stating that it had neither ordered nor authorized the alleged excess supplies mentioned by the vendor.
Vidya Caterers claimed that no purchase order, written instruction, or commercial approval was issued for the additional supplies. It further alleged that certain supplies may have been made directly at the request of site-level personnel without authorization from the company.
The caterer stated that it had repeatedly informed the supplier through emails and verbal communication not to continue any excess supplies without prior written approval.
“Any alleged liability arising from such independently supplied quantities or unauthorized transactions does not fall within the contractual or financial responsibility of M/s Vidya Caterers,” the clarification stated.
Responding to allegations raised by vegetable supplier Organic Point, the company alleged discrepancies relating to quantity mismatches, unsupported billing claims, and reconciliation differences.
Vidya Caterers stated that around Rs 1.61 lakh has been withheld pending reconciliation and statutory verification, including GST compliance checks. It termed the allegations being circulated publicly as “premature, misleading, and commercially motivated.”
Replying to claims made by Samsuddin Mutton Shop, the company said commercial deductions and reconciliation adjustments became necessary because of quality concerns, supply irregularities, and unresolved disputes during the operational period.
The company further claimed that, according to its reconciled records, no dues are presently payable to the supplier.
Vidya Caterers also stated that it has itself been facing “severe financial hardship” due to substantial operational dues allegedly remaining pending and unreleased under the ongoing contract despite uninterrupted services and manpower deployment.
The company maintained that it remains committed to settling all “genuine and reconciled claims” in accordance with contractual terms, supporting documentation, and statutory compliance requirements.
It urged that no adverse conclusions be drawn solely on the basis of vendor allegations until completion of reconciliation and verification processes.