Companies Act, 2013
439.
Offences
to be noncognizable.
1. Notwithstanding
anything in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, every offence under this Act
except the offences referred to in sub-section (6 ) of section 212 shall
be deemed to be non-cognizable within the meaning of the said Code.
2. No court shall take
cognizance of any offence under this Act which is alleged to have been
committed by any company or any officer thereof, except on the complaint in
writing of the Registrar, a shareholder of the company, or of a person authorised
by the Central Government in that behalf:
Provided
that the court may take cognizance of offences relating to issue and transfer
of securities and non-payment of dividend, on a complaint in writing, by a
person authorized by the Securities and Exchange Board of India:
Provided
further that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to a prosecution by a
company of any of its officers.
1.
2.
3. Notwithstanding
anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, where the
complainant under sub-section (2 ) is the Registrar or a person
authorised by the Central Government, the presence of such officer before the
Court trying the offences shall not be necessary unless the court requires his
personal attendance at the trial.
4. The provisions of
sub-section (2 ) shall not apply to any action taken by the liquidator of
a company in respect of any offence alleged to have been committed in respect
of any of the matters in Chapter XX or in any other provision of this Act
relating to winding up of companies.
Explanation. —The liquidator of a
company shall not be deemed to be an officer of the company within the meaning
of sub-section (2 ).