The Companies Act 2013 lays down strict rules for the way the business and management is to conduct itself. Failure to comply with these rules and guidelines can attract some penalties, some which may include civil and criminal liability. This article throws light on the penalties for misrepresentation, mismanagement and fraud under the act. Also, read about penalties before and after incorporation.
| No | Section No and Description | Defaulting party | Civil Liability | Criminal Liability
(Imprisonment) |
| 1) | Sec 197 – Breach of the limit of the overall maximum managerial remuneration and managerial remuneration in case of absence or inadequacy of profits. | Any person | Min: INR 1 Lakh
Max: INR 5 Lakhs |
|
| 2) | Sec 203 – Default in complying with provisions relating to appointment of KMP | Company
Every director & KMP |
Min: INR 1 Lakh
Max: INR 5 Lakhs In the case of Continuing one INR 1 thousand per day |
|
| 3) | Sec 204 – Failure to comply with provisions related to secretarial audit, annexing of secretarial audit report and failure by the Board to provide an explanation to the qualifications stated. | Company/ every officer/company secretary
in default |
Min: INR 1 Lakh
Max: INR 5 Lakhs |
|
| 4) | Sec 206 – Business of a company has been or is being carried on for a fraudulent or unlawful purpose Company fails to furnish any information or explanation or produce any document required by the registrar. |
Every officer in default
Company and every officer in default |
Min: Amount involved in the fraud
Max:3 times the amount involved INR 1 Lakh In case of continuing failure INR 5 hundred for every day of default |
Min:6 Months
Max:10 Years *Fraud involving public interest: Min: 3 years |
| 5) | Sec 207-Director/ officer of the company disobeys the direction issued by the Registrar or the inspector in matters related to inspection and enquiry | Director/Officer | Min: INR 25 thousand
Max: INR 1 Lakh & |
Max: 1 year |
| 6) | Sec 213- Any person concerned in the formation of the company or the management of its affairs have in connection therewith been guilty of fraud | Every officer in default & persons concerned in the formation of the company | Min: Amount involved in the fraud
Max:3 times the amount involved & |
Min:6 Months
Max:10 Years *Fraud involving public interest: Min: 3 years |
| 7) | Sec 217- Disobeying the orders issued by Registrar/inspector A person fails without reasonable cause or refuses -to produce information OR-to appear personally or answer any question OR-to sign the notes of any examination |
Director or officer
Any person |
Min: INR 25 thousand
Max: INR 1 Lakh Min: INR 25 thousand Max: INR 1 Lakh In case of continuing failure INR 2 thousand for every day of default & |
Max: 6 months |
| 8) | Sec 221 – Removal/transfer of assets/fund/property in contravention to orders of the tribunal | Company
Every officer in default |
Min: INR 1 Lakh
Max: INR 25 Lakhs Max: INR 5 Lakhs OR |
Max: 3 years
OR Both |
| 9) | Sec 222 – Securities issued/transferred in contravention to orders of the tribunal post restrictions imposed by the tribunal | Company
Every officer in default |
Min: INR 1 Lakh
Max: INR 25 Lakhs Max: INR 5 Lakhs OR |
Max: 6 months
OR Both |
| 10) | Sec 229 – Penalty for furnishing a false statement, mutilation, destruction of documents | Officer/Employee | Min: Amount involved in the fraud
Max:3 times the amount involved & |
Min:6 Months
Max:10 Years *Fraud involving public interest: Min: 3 years |
| 11) | Sec 232-Contravention of provisions related to merger and amalgamation of companies | Transferor /Transferee Company Every officer in default |
Min: INR 1 lakh
Max: INR 25 Lakhs Max: INR 3 Lakhs OR |
Max: 1 year
OR Both |
| 12) | Sec 238-Issuance of circular without registering the same with the registrar involving a transfer of shares. | Director | Min: INR 25 thousand
Max: INR 5 Lakhs |
|
| 13) | Sec 242- Alteration in MOA/Articles inconsistent with the order of the tribunal. | Company
Every officer in default |
Min: INR 1 Lakh
Max: INR 25 Lakhs Min: INR 25 thousand Max: INR 1 Lakh |
Max: 6 months
OR Both |
| 14) | Sec 243-Acting as a managing director/director/manager in contravention of the order of the tribunal. | Managing director/director/manager/every director knowingly contravening | INR 5 Lakhs OR | Max: 6 months
OR Both |
| 15) | Sec 245- Failure to comply with the orders of the tribunal pertaining to class actions. | Company
Every officer in default |
Min: INR 5 Lakh
Max: INR 25 Lakhs Min: INR 25 thousand Max: INR 1 Lakh & |
Max: 3 years |
| 16) | Sec 247 – Contravention of provisions related to valuation by registered valuers Defraud company/members |
Valuer
Valuer |
Min: INR 25 thousand
Max: INR 1 lakh Min: INR 1 Lakh Max: INR 5 Lakhs & |
Max: 1 year |
| 17) | Sec 249 – Filing for removal of name from the register of companies in contravention to provisions enshrined in this section | Company | Max: INR 1 Lakh | |
| 18) | Sec 251-Fraudulent application for removal of a name. | Persons in charge of the management of the company | Min: Amount involved in the fraud
Max:3 times the amount involved & |
Min:6 Months
Max:10 Years *Fraud involving public interest: Min: 3 years |
| 19) | Sec 267 –
1) Violation of Provisions of chapter XIX or order of tribunal/appellate tribunal 2) Provides False evidence/false statement before the Tribunal/Appellate Tribunal 3) Attempts to tamper with the records of reference or appeal filed under this Act |
Any person | Max: INR 10 Lakhs & | Max: 7 years |
| 20) | Sec 274 -Failure to file the statement of affairs. | Director or officer in default | Min: INR 25 thousand
Max: INR 5 Lakhs OR |
Max: 6 months
OR Both |
| 21) | Sec 15 – Failure to note alteration in every copy of the articles or memorandum as the case may be | Company and every officer in default | INR 1 thousand for every copy issued without alteration | |
| 22) | Sec 447- Punishment for fraud | Any person guilty of fraud | Min: Amount involved in the fraud
Max:3 times the amount involved & |
|
| 23) | Sec 448- Punishment for false statement | Any person guilty of fraud | Min: Amount involved in the fraud
Max:3 times the amount involved & |
|
| 24) | Sec 449-Punishment for false evidence | Any person | Max: INR 10 lakhs & | |
| 25) | Sec 450-Punishment where no specific penalty or punishment is provided | Company & every officer un default | INR 10 thousand
In case of continuing failure INR 1 thousand for every day of default |
|
| 26) | Sec 451 – Punishment in case of repeated default
( Same offence within a period of 3 years) |
Company/Officer | Twice the amount of fine for such offence | |
| 27) | Sec 452 – Punishment for wrongful withholding of
Property |
Officer/Employee | Min: INR 1 Lakh
Max: INR 5 Lakhs |
|
| 28) | Punishment for improper use of “Limited” or “Private Limited” | Person | INR 500 to INR 2000 for every day of usage of the name | |
| 29) | Sec 454 – Non-payment of the penalty imposed by the adjudicating officer or the Regional Director within a period of ninety days from the date of the receipt of the copy of the order | Company
Officer |
Min: INR 25 thousand
Max: INR 5 Lakhs Max: INR 1 Lakh OR |
|
| 30) | Sec 464 – Formation of association or partnership of persons exceeding a certain number | Every member of an association or partnership carrying on business | Max: INR 1 Lakh | |
| 31) | Sec 191 – Payment to director for loss of office, etc., in connection with the transfer of undertaking, property or shares in contravention of the provisions | Director | Min: INR 25 thousand
Max: INR 1 Lakh |
|
| 32) | Sec 194 – Entering into forward dealings in securities of company by the director or key managerial personnel. | Director/Key managerial personnel | Min: INR 1 lakh
Max: INR 5 Lakh OR |
Max: 2 years
OR Both |
| 33) | Sec 195- Insider trading of securities | Any person | Min: INR 5 Lakh
Max: INR 25 Crores or three times the amount of profits made out of insider trading whichever is higher |
Max: 5 years
OR Both |
| 72) | Sec 190 – Failure to maintain a copy of the contract of employment with managing director or whole time director/written memorandum in absence of a written contract & also failure to keep it open for inspection without fee | Company
Every officer in default |
INR 25 thousand INR 5 thousand for each default |
