Singapore court rules Indian CEO's Rs 3.5 crore on ex-girlfriend were gifts; UPI launches at Sentosa
Two stories define Singapore's South Asian news this week. A Singapore court ruled against Chander Agarwal, the Indian-origin CEO of a Mumbai-listed company, who sought to recover SGD 468,000 — more than Rs 3.5 crore — that he spent on his former girlfriend, arguing the spending constituted loans. Senior Judge Lee Seiu Kin, in a written judgment issued on September 9, ruled that most of the payments were voluntary gifts. Separately, Indian travellers visiting Singapore can now use UPI to book and pay online for attractions and experiences at Resorts World Sentosa, including Universal Studios Singapore.
🗳️ Singapore court: Indian CEO's relationship spending were gifts, not loans
A Singapore court rejected the bid by Chander Agarwal, CEO of a Mumbai-listed company, to recover SGD 468,000 — equivalent to over Rs 3.5 crore — from his former girlfriend. Agarwal had argued that money spent during their relationship, including expenses for overseas trips, a feng shui consultation for the woman's flat, and a Stanford-NUS executive programme, constituted loans that should be repaid. Agarwal and the woman first met on a flight in 2019 and later reconnected on social media. Their relationship began in September 2022. Agarwal had given her expensive gifts even before they began dating, and during the relationship he arranged a limousine after a dinner, purchased luxury items, and paid most expenses during a European trip they took together. The relationship ended in December 2023 after Agarwal suspected the woman of being unfaithful. He filed the lawsuit in March 2024, arguing that the spending should be repaid as loans. In a written judgment issued on September 9, Senior Judge Lee Seiu Kin ruled that most payments were gifts Agarwal had voluntarily made. The judge found that Agarwal had showered the woman with gifts while attracted to her but became embittered after the relationship ended badly. During cross-examination Agarwal stated that once the relationship began everything became a loan and everything was transactional — a position the judge rejected as contrary to common sense and unsustainable. [4]
🏢 Indian visitors can now pay via UPI at Singapore's Resorts World Sentosa
Indian travellers visiting Singapore can now use UPI — Unified Payments Interface — to book and pay online for attractions and experiences at Resorts World Sentosa. The UPI payment option covers bookings that include Universal Studios Singapore, one of the flagship theme parks at the Resorts World Sentosa complex. The announcement was reported by Economic Times Travel, which covers travel industry developments relevant to Indian visitors and the outbound tourism market. Resorts World Sentosa is among Singapore's most prominent leisure destinations, hosting theme parks, hotels, and entertainment venues that draw visitors from across Asia. Universal Studios Singapore is a key draw within the Resorts World Sentosa complex and is among the most recognised international theme park brands accessible to Indian outbound tourists. The acceptance of UPI at Resorts World Sentosa's online booking platform expands the payment option to one of Singapore's premier tourism sites. UPI is India's mobile payment infrastructure that enables real-time bank transfers and is widely used by Indian consumers for everyday transactions. The addition of UPI as a payment method at Resorts World Sentosa means Indian travellers can now use their preferred domestic payment system when booking their Singapore tourist experiences online. The availability extends to booking attractions and experiences at Resorts World Sentosa, including Universal Studios Singapore, making it more convenient for Indian visitors planning their visits to the island resort. [3]
Sources: [4] 10net.in · [3] travel.economictimes.indiatimes.com