Financial fraud is a phenomenon that haunts everyone alike. Not only does it mean loss of an asset for the one who has been at the receiving end of a fraud, it has the capability of shaking the roots of “confidence” and “trust” that anchor a society and/or an economy. Governments and other policy makers therefore remain keen to control the menace The Companies (Amendment) Act, 2015 is a harbinger of positive trends in the ease of doing business for Indian companies. This post is specifically with regard to Section 143 of the Companies Act, 2013 concerning the power and duties of auditors and its amendment thereof. Prior to the new Companies Act, 2013 Fraud was largely seen as a broad legal concept. The old Companies Act already provides punishment for fraud in various sections but the new Act has come with more specific and clear provisions relating to fraud and fraud reporting. The scope and coverage is very wide unlike Companies Act, 1956. Auditors have always had an important role to play in enhancing the credibility of the financial information. With the introduction of section 143(12) of the Companies Act, 2013, the Central Government is apparently seeking the support of the auditors in bringing in greater transparency and discipline in the corporate world to protect the interests of the shareholders as also the public, at large. The increasing rate of white-collar crimes demands stiff penalties, exemplary punishments, and effective enforcement of law with the right spirit. Our country has also witnessed several corporate Frauds, few of them being the 5000 crore rupees Harshad Mehta scam in 1992, 7000 crore rupees Satyam fiasco in 2009, the 27000 crore rupees Sahara fraud case which started in 2010 and is subjudice in Supreme Court, till date.
DEFINITION OF FRAUD
Fraud has been defined as, “Fraud in relation to affairs of a company or any body corporate, includes any act, omission, concealment of any fact or abuse of position committed by any person or any other person with the connivance in any manner, with intent to deceive, to gain undue advantage from, or to injure the interests of, the company or its shareholders or its creditors or any other person, whether or not there is any wrongful gain or wrongful loss. ‘Wrongful gain’ means the gain by unlawful means of property to which the person gaining is not
legally entitled and ‘wrongful loss’ means the loss by unlawful means of property to which the person losing is legally entitled.” It is the first time that the Act defines fraud and also imposes civil and criminal liability on the fraudster for non-compliance.
- Fraud is also defined in Section 17 of Indian Contract Act, 1872 as follows
“Fraud” means and includes any of the following acts committed by a party to a contract, or with his connivance, or by his agents, with intent to deceive another party thereto his agent, or to induce him to enter into the contract
(1) the suggestion as a fact, of that which is not true, by one who does not believe it to be true.
(2) the active concealment of a fact by one having knowledge or belief of the fact.
(3) a promise made without any intention of performing it.
(4) any other act fitted to deceive.
(5) any such act or omission as the law specially declares to be fraudulent.
PERSONS COVERED FOR REPORTING ON FRAUD UNDER SECTION 143(12) OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2013
The reporting requirement under Section 143(12) is for the followings
- Statutory Auditors of the company and also equally applies to the Cost Accountant in practice, conducting cost audit under Section 148 of the Act
- Company Secretary in practice, conducting secretarial audit under Section 204 of the Act
- Branch Auditor appointed under Section 139 to the extent it relates to the concerned branch Internal Auditor
PERSON EXCLUDED IN THE REQUIREMENT TO REPORT FRAUD
The provisions of Section 143(12) do not apply to other professionals who are rendering other services to the company. For example, Section 143(12) does not apply to auditors appointed under other statutes for rendering other services such as tax auditor appointed for audit under Income-tax Act. Sales Tax or VAT auditors appointed for audit under the respective Sales Tax or VAT legislation.
TYPES OF FRAUDS COVERED UNDER 143
Its includes only fraud by officers or employees of the company and does not include fraud by third parties such as vendors and customers.
PROCEDURE FOR FRAUD REPORTING
Reporting of frauds by auditor involving amount more than Rs. 1 crore. If an auditor of a company, in the course of the performance of his duties as statutory auditor, has reason to believe that an offense of fraud, which involves or is expected to involve individually an amount of rupees one crore or above, is being or has been committed against the company by its officers or employees, the auditor shall report the matter to the Central Government. Auditor should report such frauds as soon as possible but not later than 62 days of his knowledge about the frauds
STEPS INVOLVING WHILE REPORTING
- Step-1-Report To Board & Audit Committee
Auditor shall forward his report to the Board of Directors or the Audit Committee , as the case may be, within 2 days of his knowledge of the fraud, seeking their reply or observations within 45 forty-five days.
- Step-2-Report To Government After Reply Of Board:
On receipt of such reply or observations the auditor shall forward his report and the reply or observations of the Board or the Audit Committee along with his comments (on such reply or observations of the Board or the Audit Committee) to the Central Government within 15 fifteen days of receipt of such reply or observations;
- Step-3-Report To Government If No Reply Received
In case the auditor fails to get any reply or observations from the Board or the Audit Committee within the stipulated period of 45 (forty-five days), he shall forward his report to the Central Government along with a note containing the details of his report that was earlier forwarded to the Board or the Audit Committee for which he failed to receive any reply or observations within the stipulated time.
OTHER POINTS TO KEEP IT IN MIND
The report shall be on the letter-head of the auditor containing the followings,
- Postal Address
- e-mail address
- contact number
- signed by the auditor with his seal
- shall indicate his Membership Number.
Report shall be in the form of a statement as specified in Form ADT-4 .
REPORTING OF FRAUDS BY AUDITOR INVOLVING AMOUNT LESS THAN RS.1 CRORE
Sub-rule (3) of revised Rule 13 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 Provides that in case of fraud involving an amount less than Rs. 1 Crore, the auditor shall report the matter of fraud to the Audit Committee or to the Board within 2 days of his knowledge of the fraud. The report should specify the nature of the fraud with description, approximate amount of the fraud and parties involved in the fraud. In such case, as per Sub-rule (4), the Board shall disclose in its report (Board’s Report) the nature of fraud with description, approximate amount of the fraud, parties involved in the fraud and remedial action taken. Name of parties should be disclosed only when the Board or Audit Committee has not taken any remedial action against the fraud.
PUNISHMENT FOR FRAUD
- Section 447 defines the punishment for fraud, as below
Criminal Liability – Imprisonment – Minimum: 6 months (3 years in case public interest is involved) and Maximum: 10 years AND Civil Liability – Fine/ Penalty Minimum: Amount equivalent to fraud and Maximum: 3 times of amount involved in fraud.
It is important to note that penalty is non compoundable.
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