Companies Act, 2013
147.
Punishment for contravention.
1. If any of the
provisions of sections 139 to 146 (both inclusive) is contravened, the company
shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than twenty-five thousand
rupees but which may extend to five lakh rupees and every officer of the
company who is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term
which may extend to one year or with fine which shall not be less than ten
thousand rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees, or with both.
2. If an auditor of a
company contravenes any of the provisions of section 139, section 143, section
144 or section 145, the auditor shall be punishable with fine which shall not
be less than twenty-five thousand rupees but which may extend to five lakh
rupees:
Provided
that if an auditor has contravened such provisions knowingly or willfully with
the intention to deceive the company or its shareholders or creditors or tax
authorities, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to one year and with fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees
but which may extend to twenty-five lakh rupees.
1.
2.
3. Where an auditor has
been convicted under sub-section (2 ), he shall be liable to—
i.
refund
the remuneration received by him to the company; and
ii.
pay
for damages to the company, statutory bodies or authorities or to any other
persons for loss arising out of incorrect or misleading statements of
particulars made in his audit report.
1.
2.
3.
4. The Central
Government shall, by notification, specify any statutory body or authority or
an officer for ensuring prompt payment of damages to the company or the persons
under clause (ii ) of sub-section (3 ) and such body, authority or
officer shall after payment of damages to such company or persons file a report
with the Central Government in respect of making such damages in such manner as
may be specified in the said notification.
5. Where, in case of
audit of a company being conducted by an audit firm, it is proved that the
partner or partners of the audit firm has or have acted in a fraudulent manner
or abetted or colluded in any fraud by, or in relation to or by, the company or
its directors or officers, the liability, whether civil or criminal as provided
in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force, for such act shall
be of the partner or partners concerned of the audit firm and of the firm
jointly and severally.