Section 224 of Companies Act, 2013 – Actions to be taken in pursuance of inspector’s report

SECTION 224. ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN PURSUANCE OF INSPECTOR’S REPORT

[Effective from 1st April, 2014 except sub-section (5) which is effective from 1st, June 2016 and 

sub-section (2) from 15th December, 2016]

(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 [1] [or under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 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.

[1] Inserted by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (31 of 2016), s.255 & eleventh schedule.