Companies Act, 1956
Sec 542 - Liability for fraudulent conduct of
business.
(1) If in the course of the winding up of a
company, it appears that any business of the company has been carried on, with
intent to defraud creditors of the company or any other persons, or for any
fraudulent purpose, the Court, on the application of the Official Liquidator,
or the liquidator or any creditor or contributory of the company, may, if it
thinks it proper so to do, declare that any persons who were knowingly parties
to the carrying on of the business in the manner aforesaid shall be personally
responsible, without any limitation of liability, for all or any of the debts
or other liabilities of the company as the Court may direct. On the hearing of
an application under this sub-section, the Official Liquidator or the
liquidator, as the case may be, may himself give evidence or call witnesses.
(2)
(a) Where the Court makes any such
declaration, it may give such further directions as it thinks proper for the
purpose of giving effect to that declaration.
(b) In particular, the Court may make
provision for making the liability of any such person under the declaration a
charge on any debt or obligation due from the company to him, or on any
mortgage or charge or any interest in any mortgage or charge on any assets of
the company held by or vested in him, or any person on his behalf, or any
person claiming as assignee from or through the person liable or only person
acting on his behalf.
(c) The Court may, from time to time, make
such further order as may be necessary for the purpose of enforcing any charge
imposed under this sub-section.
(d) For the purpose of this sub-section, the
expression " assignee " includes any person to whom or in whose
favor, by the directions of the person liable, the debt, obligation, mortgage
or charge was created, issued or transferred or the interest was created, but
does not include an assignee for valuable consideration (not including
consideration by way of marriage) given in good faith and without notice of any
of the matters on the ground of which the declaration is made.
(3) Where any business of a company is carried
on with such intent or for such purpose as is mentioned in sub-section (1),
every person who was knowingly a party to the carrying on of the business in
the manner aforesaid, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which
may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to fifty thousand
rupees, or with both.
(4) This section shall apply, notwithstanding
that the person concerned may be criminally liable in respect of the matters on
the ground of which the declaration is to be made.