Microsoft's Service Snub to Nayara Sparks Legal Battle

In an eleventh-hour move, Microsoft Corp restored full services, including email access, to the Russian-linked Nayara Energy just before a crucial hearing at the Delhi High Court, informed sources disclosed. The tech giant had previously halted services in response to European Union sanctions against Russia amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

Nayara Energy, partly owned by Russian oil heavyweight Rosneft, contested the suspension, labeling it unilateral and abrupt. The firm initiated legal proceedings, accusing Microsoft of restricting access to essential services like email and Teams, which were contracted under fully paid licenses.

Nayara underscored the broader implications of Microsoft's actions, voicing concerns over the potential disruption to India's energy infrastructure and cautioning against corporate overreach into foreign legal territories. The company's legal petition seeks an interim injunction for the resumption of services, deeming Microsoft's compliance actions as overly expansive and unwarranted.

(With inputs from agencies.)