Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
141. Offences by companies
(1) If the person committing an offence under section 138 is a
company, every person who, at the time the offence was committed, was in charge
of, and was responsible to the company for the conduct of the business of the
company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence
and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:
PROVIDED that nothing contained in this sub-section
shall render any person liable to punishment if he proves that the offence was
committed without his knowledge, or that he had exercised all due diligence to
prevent the commission of such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where
any offence under this Act, has been committed by a company and it is proved
that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is
attributable to, any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary
or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other
officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable
to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Explanation: For the purpose of this section
(a) "company" means any body corporate and includes a
firm or other association of individuals; and
(b) "director", in relating to a firm, means a partner
in the firm.