Cos 224 — Actions to be taken in pursuance of inspector’s report

Companies Act, 2013

Statutory text

(1) If, from an inspector’s report, made  under  section  223,  it  appears  to  the  Central  Government  that  any  person  has,  in  relation  to  the company or in relation to any other body corporate or other person whose affairs have been investigated under this  Chapter been guilty of any offence for which  he is criminally liable, the  Central Government may prosecute such person for the offence and it shall be the duty of all officers and other employees of the company or body corporate to give the Central Government the necessary assistance in connection with the prosecution.
(2)  If  any  company  or  other  body  corporate  is  liable  to  be  wound  up  under  this  Act

[or  under  the
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (31 of 2016)] and it appears to the Central Government from any such report made under section 223 that it is expedient so to do by reason of any such circumstances as are referred to in section 213, the Central Government may, unless the company or body corporate is already being wound up  by the  Tribunal,  cause to be  presented to the Tribunal by any  person  authorised by  the Central Government in this behalf—
(a) a petition for the winding up of the company or body corporate on the ground that it is just and equitable that it should be wound up;
(b) an application under section 241; or (c) both.
(3) If from any such report as aforesaid, it appears to the Central Government that proceedings ought, in  the  public  interest,  to  be  brought  by  the  company  or any  body  corporate  whose  affairs  have  been investigated under this Chapter—
(a)  for  the  recovery  of  damages  in  respect  of  any  fraud,  misfeasance  or  other  misconduct  in connection  with  the  promotion  or  formation,  or  the  management  of  the  affairs,  of  such  company  or body corporate; or (b) for the recovery of any property of such company or body corporate which has been misapplied or wrongfully retained, the Central Government may itself bring proceedings for winding up in the name of such company or body corporate.
(4)  The  Central  Government,  shall  be  indemnified  by  such  company  or  body  corporate  against  any costs or expenses incurred by it in, or in connection with, any proceedings brought by virtue of sub-section (3).
(5) Where the report made by an inspector states that fraud has taken place in a company and due to such  fraud  any  director,  key  managerial  personnel,  other  officer  of  the  company  or  any  other  person  or entity, has taken undue advantage or benefit, whether in the form of any asset, property or cash or in any other manner, the Central Government may file an application before the Tribunal for appropriate orders with regard to disgorgement of such asset, property, or cash, as the case may be, and also for holding such director,  key  managerial  personnel,  officer  or  other  person  liable  personally  without  any  limitation  of liability.

Back to Cos