New Delhi, May 22 -- The Delhi High Court on Friday protected InterGlobe Aviation, which operates India's largest airline IndiGo, from coercive action over a Rs.458.26 crore goods and services tax (GST) demand linked to compensation received from a foreign engine supplier.

A division bench of Justices Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Ajay Digpaul issued notice to the GST department and granted interim protection to the airline after observing that, prima facie, the amount received by IndiGo appeared to be a "compensation", and not "supply".

IndiGo argued before the court that there was no risk to revenue and no need for coercive recovery because the airline was financially sound.

"I am not going to run away. I pay more than Rs.20,000 crores in...