Sunrise Radio has 42 days to settle debt

The Royal Court of Justice has given Sunrise Radio Ltd 42 days to settle HMRC’s payment of over £400,000.

Chairman Avtar Lit, who did not attend the two minute hearing, was represented by his barrister. Lit has until Monday 14th October to make the outstanding payment. If he fails to submit the outstanding money before the date give, the court will force the stations off air including Sunrise Radio, Kismat Radio and Buzz Radio.

A wound-up company cannot legally hold an Ofcom licence to broadcast.

Last week, it emerged that HMRC had filed a “wind-up” petition against Sunrise Radio for money owed.

BizAsia contacted HMRC after the hearing today, who declined to comment due to legal reasons. They were not in a position to discuss the affairs of businesses at any stage of the process.

The last UK radio station to be forced off-air due to a winding-up order was Dune FM in Southport, which ended up having its transmitter physically removed by Ofcom.

Story reproduced in part from BizAsia