Vishal Sharma vs The State Of West Bengal & Anr on 23 March, 2026

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    Calcutta High Court (Appellete Side)

    Vishal Sharma vs The State Of West Bengal & Anr on 23 March, 2026

                     IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
                   CRIMINAL REVISIONAL JURISDICTION
                                 Appellate Side
    
    
        Present:
    
        The Hon'ble Justice Ajay Kumar Gupta
    
    
                              C.R.R. 1881 of 2020
                                 Vishal Sharma
                                     Versus
                         The State of West Bengal & Anr.
    
                                      With
    
                               CRR 1883 of 2020
                                 Vishal Sharma
                                       Vs.
                         The State of West Bengal & Anr.
    
    
    
    For the Petitioner                : Mr. Rishad Medora, Adv.
                                        Mr. Pushan Kar, Adv.
                                        Ms. A. Banerjee, Adv.
                                        Mr. Abhidipto Tarafder, Adv.
    
    For the Registrar of Companies
    In CRR No. 1881 of 2020           : Mr. Anirban Mitra, Adv.
    
    
    For the Registrar of Companies    : Mr. Arun Kumar Maiti (Mohanty), Adv.
    In CRR No. 1883 of 2020              Mr. Anjan Chakraborty, Adv.
    
    Heard on                          : 27.01.2026
    
    Judgment on                       : 23.03.2026
                                       2
    
    
    
    
         Ajay Kumar Gupta, J.:-
    
    1.   The petitioner being the Auditor/accused has filed these two Criminal
    
         Revisional Applications under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal
    
         Procedure, 1973 (in short 'Cr.P.C.') being CRR No. 1881 of 2020 and
    
         CRR No. 1883 of 2020 seeking quashing of proceedings being
    
         Complaint Case No. 44/2019 and Complaint Case No. 43/2019, now
    
         pending before the Learned Judge, 2nd Special Court at Kolkata
    
         under Section 129 and 448 of the Companies Act, 2013 (in short 'the
    
         said Act'). Both complaints were lodged by the Deputy Registrar of
    
         Companies (Vineet Rai) on similar facts and allegations of two
    
         different companies. As such, both cases have been taken up
    
         together on the consent of the parties for their disposal with a
    
         common judgment for the sake of convenience and to avoid
    
         repetition.
    
         FACTS OF THE CASE: -

    2. The specific case of the petitioner herein is that he is a practising

    Chartered Accountant and an Income Tax payee. The Deputy

    SPONSORED

    Registrar of Companies, West Bengal. He filed two complaint cases,

    one being Complaint Case No. 44/2019 against two Directors

    (accused nos. 1 and 2) of M/s. Marco Polo Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. and

    the petitioner (accused No. 3) and another, being the Complaint Case

    No. 43/2019 against two Directors of M/s. Balai Lal Mookerjee & Co.
    3

    Pvt. Ltd. and the petitioner (accused no. 3), being the statutory

    auditor of the said company under Sections 129 and 448 of the said

    Act.

    3. It appears from the said complaint that the charge against the

    petitioner is only under Section 448 of the said Act. There was a

    rivalry and/or dispute between the companies and third parties,

    wherein Prakash Kumar Roy, who has no connection whatsoever with

    the said companies, started filing complaints against the companies.

    Based on that, these complaints have been filed. It will be seen from

    the complaint that violations of Section 129 of the said Act have been

    attributed to accused nos. 1 and 2 (in both the Complaints), whereas

    violations of Section 448 of the said Act have been attributed to all.

    The company against which allegations are made has not been made

    a party in either of the complaints.

    4. The petitioner asserts that no case has been made out against him in

    either of the complaints. The complaints are cryptic, and there is no

    description with regard to the violation of the provisions of the said

    Act by the petitioner. The allegations are false, baseless, vague and

    frivolous.

    5. The Learned Judge, by order dated 22 nd November, 2019, has found a

    prima facie case against the accused persons and took cognizance

    and issued summons upon the accused persons. It will appear that
    4

    the Learned Judge has not applied her mind at all. The relevant

    portion from the order is quoted below.

    “Heard. Perused the application. The complainant is a public
    servant and therefore I am not inclined to reject the
    application.”

    6. It was further contention of the petitioner that the Learned Judge has

    not applied her mind in the matter and has not made necessary

    inquiries as to whether cognizance should have been taken and

    summons should have been issued. The said order is palpably bad,

    illegal and de hors the provisions of the statute. The petitioner has

    not made any false statement in the financial statement, and neither

    complaint discloses any falsity. The petitioner denied that the

    accounts are fudged and fiddled, which is an imaginary allegation

    without any particulars. The petitioner obtained bail from the

    Learned Judge on 18th December, 2019.

    7. Being aggrieved by and dissatisfied with the Orders dated 22.11.2019

    passed in Complaint Cases No. 44/2019 and 43/2019 by Learned

    Judge, 2nd Special Court, Kolkata, the petitioner filed these Criminal

    Revisional applications seeking quashing of the orders as well as the

    proceedings pending before the Trial Court. Hence, these

    applications.

    5

    ARGUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE PETITIONER: –

    8. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner vehemently

    argued and submitted that the present Criminal Revisional

    applications arise out of the Complaint Case No. 44 of 2019 and

    Complaint case No.43 of 2019 pending before the Court of the

    Learned 2nd Special Judge at Kolkata is baseless and liable to be

    quashed since the case is bereft of the following reasons: –

    a. Firstly, it is not maintainable since it has been filed in

    contravention of Section 439(2) of the Companies Act, 2013.

    Neither the registrar, a shareholder, nor a member of the

    company, nor a person authorised by the Central Government on

    that behalf filed it. As the instant complaint, which is not a

    complaint in writing by the Registrar, has been filed by Deputy

    Registrar of Companies (Vineet Rai), a person not authorised by

    the Central Government, the complaint is filed without any

    authorisation. In support of this contention, the Petitioner has

    relied on the decision of this Hon’ble Court in Usha Martin

    Telematics Limited & Ors. v. Registrar of Companies 1 which

    places reliance on the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in

    Pepsi Foods Limited v. Special Judicial Magistrate 2.

    1
    2022 SCC Online Cal 1792
    2
    (1998) 5 SCC 749 [28]
    6

    b. Neither the complaint, nor the documents in support thereof, nor

    the order passed by the Learned Judge reflects submission of any

    authorisation. The said order dated 22 nd November, 2019,

    specifies in detail that the Deputy Registrar of Companies filed the

    case, and he is the complainant who sought the dispensation of

    personal attendance, which was exempted and the application was

    allowed. No record of any authorisation on behalf of the Registrar

    of Companies is recorded in the said order. The exemption granted

    under Section 256 of Cr.P.C. read with Section 439(3) of the

    Companies Act, 2013, is different from the authorisation

    necessary under the other provision. It was further submitted that

    before arraigning the petitioner as an accused, the company must

    be entangled in the present case; otherwise, the whole complaint

    is not maintainable in law.

    c. The complaint is bad in law as it suffers from non-joinder and

    misjoinder of the Company, being the primary accused, being

    arraigned as a party in the present case.

    9. The Deputy Registrar has initiated a complaint on the basis of

    information received by one interloper/third party on a purported tip

    and alleged contravention of Section 129 (Financial Statement) and

    Section 448 (Punishment for false statement) of Companies Act, 2013

    which is complained of after more than six months which is the
    7

    period within which any discrepancy ought to have been noticed and

    complaint filed, but the purported concealment of transactions all

    arose before 30th December, 2016 and the information was received

    by letter dated 4th October, 2018 and complaint was filed on 22 nd

    November, 2019.

    10. The notification dated 30th March, 2017, under the Gazette of India,

    proposed disclosure of details of Specified Bank Notes by amendment

    to General instructions in preparation of Balance Sheets under

    Schedule III by insertion of Clause K, was affected retrospectively;

    therefore, the Central Government, being aware of such

    implementation, had also introduced. The Specified Bank Notes

    (Cessation of Liabilities) Act, 2017, was notified on 27 th February,

    2017, which imposed restrictions on penalties against contravention

    and offences.

    11. It is an admitted position that the complaint is made beyond the

    prescribed period with regard to the application under Section 447 of

    the Companies Act. For such provision to apply the Complaint has to

    be supported by any finding of fraud, guilty mind or mens rea, but in

    the present case, no such case is made out, as the complaint

    proceeds on the basis of inability to disclose specified bank notes, for

    which offenses, related to fraud, cannot be ex facie made applicable
    8

    on account of the provisions of The Specified Bank Notes (Cessation

    of Liabilities) Act, 2017 notified on 27 th February, 2017.

    12. The petitioner herein is not charged for refrainment from disclosing

    the details of Specified Bank Notes and has been charged only

    violation under section 448 of the companies Act, 2013 for non-

    disclosure of related party transactions and incorrect reporting of

    Trade receivable due for within six months which will be clear from

    the complaint under Section 129 and 448 of the Companies Act by

    the Opposite party No.2.

    13. In the aforesaid contentions raised by the Petitioner, the said

    complaint is not maintainable on multiple grounds. In any event, the

    purported grounds in the complaint, as alleged by the Opposite Party,

    are also not maintainable on the respective submissions.

    14. The case of the opposite party in respect of the contravention of the

    financial statement is two-fold. Firstly, paragraph 3.1 relates to the

    Auditor’s action for not disclosing specified bank notes but holds the

    Petitioner/Directors liable as accused without any finding of guilt or

    mens rea. Preparation of the balance sheet as per statutory norms is

    a responsibility of the Auditors; therefore, unless there is proof of

    guilt on the part of the Directors, they could not have been named as

    accused in the present case. As per Section 129 of Companies Act,
    9

    financial statements are required to be in accordance with accounting

    standards.

    15. Further, the discussion in relation to the applicability of provisions of

    The Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Act, 2017, notified

    on 27th February, 2017, has been discussed hereinabove. Therefore,

    in light of the restriction on punishment provisions under Section

    129 of the Companies Act, 2013, it cannot be applied in such a case.

    16. Secondly, at paragraph 3.2 it alleges contravention of procedure laid

    down under Accounting Standard 18 in recording transaction by

    related parties. The particular accounting standard does not apply to

    a company within the meaning of Small and Medium Sized Enterprise

    level II enterprise under Accounting Standard 18.

    17. From the definition of Level-II enterprise at Page 31D, it would appear

    that the Company (having turnover of over Rs. 5 crores) would fit this

    category of enterprise having turnover in excess of Rs. 40 lakhs and

    under Rs. 5 Crores.

    18. When read with exemptions/relaxations for SMEs, Related Party

    Disclosure is not applicable for such an enterprise. Therefore, the

    charge has been incorrectly levelled against the Company.

    19. In addition to the fact that this provision is not applicable, from the

    balance sheets on record, it would appear that such disclosure of

    party-related transactions has been carried forward in the Books of
    10

    the Company for several years and is not a fresh statement that was

    required to be disclosed. Unsecured Borrowings from corporate

    amounting to Rs. 80,50,450/- is the related party transaction

    complained of, which was reflected as on 31 st March, 2017 and 31st

    March, 2016. Unsecured Borrowings from corporate amounting to

    Rs. 80,50,450/- were reflected as on 31 st March, 2016 and 31st

    March, 2015, and from corporate amounting to Rs. 80,50,450/- was

    reflected as on 31st March, 2018 and 31st March, 2017. This is not a

    new transaction that requires disclosure.

    20. If there is no transaction, the question of disclosure of transaction

    under Accounting Standard 18 does not and cannot arise.

    21. Although there are two grounds raised by the Respondent authorities

    regarding contravention of the said provision, the Petitioner restricted

    submissions to paragraph 3.3 of the Complaint as the Petitioner are

    not implicated as per paragraph 3.4.

    22. No case of suppression of Specified Bank Notes is made out as the

    Balance Sheet suffers from mere non-disclosure, and it cannot be

    construed as suppression of Specified Bank Notes in respect of a

    notification which was affected retrospectively. In reply, the Petitioner

    relied upon a certificate from its Bankers regarding the disclosure of

    Specified Bank Notes to the Registrar of Companies, which neither
    11

    violates the accounting standards nor the Specified Bank Notes

    (Cessation of Liabilities) Act, 2017, notified on 27 th February, 2017.

    23. Since the ambit of its offence is restricted by a Special law, provisions

    of section 448 of the Companies Act cannot be attracted in such

    cases.

    24. It was further submitted that due to demonetization declared on 8 th

    November, 2016 and the world pandemic in the year 2020, there was

    almost no cash transaction whatsoever left as the cash reserve was

    deposited in the account of the company. The petitioner is merely an

    auditor of the company. He had no personal interest in the company

    as he was neither a shareholder, nor a director, nor an employee. He

    was not in any way connected with the company.

    25. The Trial Court further failed to consider that the complaint, lodged

    after expiry of more than one and a half years from the date of the

    actual cause of action, is barred by limitation as stipulated under

    section 468 of the Cr.P.C.

    26. Finally, it was submitted that a Co-ordinate Bench of this High Court

    in CRR No. 4526 of 2024 [Arup Mookerjee vs. The Registrar of

    Companies, West Bengal] with CRR 1805 of 2020 [Archana

    Chakraborty vs. The Registrar of Companies, West Bengal] dated

    28th March, 2025, on identical allegations, facts and circumstances,

    in relation to the same transactions against the Directors, of another
    12

    concern, which has held the complaint to be bad in law and liable to

    be set aside, being not in accordance with law and abuse of the

    process of law.

    27. It was further submitted that this court also allowed a revisional

    application, being CRR No. 1806 of 2020 (Apurba Mookerjee v. The

    Registrar of Companies, dated 4th February, 2026, and quashed the

    proceedings against the Directors of the company. Therefore, the

    petitioner herein is also entitled to the same relief.

    28. In the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the Complaint Case no. 44

    of 2019 and Complaint Case no. 43 of 2019 pending before the

    Learned 2nd Special Judge at Kolkata are also liable to be quashed on

    the same prepositions; otherwise, it would be highly prejudicial

    and/or an abuse of process of law.

    ARGUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES:-

    29. Per contra, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Registrar

    of Companies submitted that the instant Criminal Revisional

    application stems out of a complaint case being Complaint Case No.

    44 of 2019 and Complaint case no. 43 of 2019 pending before the

    Learned Second Special Judge at Kolkata whereby, necessary

    processes were issued in respect of the present petitioner so far as

    the violation of Section 448 of the Companies Act, 2013.
    13

    30. The Auditor is a monitor for the company and is duty-bound to report

    if they find any irregularities in the company, but failed. The

    Petitioner has deliberately violated section 448 of the Companies Act,

    2013, and as such a prima facie case has been made out against the

    present petitioner.

    31. The Learned counsel representing the Registrar submitted upon

    enquiry, it was found that the financial statements furnished by the

    company do not give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the

    company. Furthermore, it has been revealed that the petitioner, while

    filing the financial statement, omitted material facts knowing it to be

    material for the purposes of this Act. Thus, the petitioner has

    committed fraud that tantamount to omission and/or concealment of

    any fact as defined under Section 447 of the Companies Act, 2013.

    32. The Deputy Registrar of Companies is not empowered to file a

    complaint before the Learned Court by virtue of section 439 (2) of the

    Companies Act, 2013, which is an utterly misconceived nuance of

    Law. In this regard, it is submitted that as per section 2(75) of the

    Companies Act, 2013, the term “Registrar” means a registrar, an

    additional registrar, a joint registrar, a deputy registrar or an

    assistant registrar having the duty of registering companies and

    discharging various functions under the Act. Therefore, since the

    terminology and definition of the term “Registrar” includes a Deputy
    14

    Registrar as well, it can be conclusively said that he is accordingly

    duly empowered to file the instant complaint case before the Court of

    the Learned Second Special Court at Kolkata.

    33. The Petitioner has alleged that the instant Complaint Case is barred

    by limitation, which is also misconceived. The provision of Section

    448 of the Companies Act is not subject to Section 468 of the Cr.P.C.,

    as it is punishable by imprisonment up to 10 years. Additionally, an

    offence committed under section 447 of the Act, which is in the

    nature of the fraud committed, is a continuing one and, therefore,

    Section 468 of the Cr.P.C. has no manner of applicability whatsoever.

    Accordingly, it is urged that the instant Criminal Revisional

    application is not maintainable in its tenor and form and as such, the

    same should be dismissed in limine.

    34. Learned counsel for the opposite party no. 2 has placed reliance on

    the following judgments:-

    i. State of U.P. Vs. O.P. Sharma3 particularly in paragraph nos. 12,
    13 and 14;

    ii. Kathyayini Vs. Sidharth P.S. Reddy & Ors. 4 particularly in
    paragraph no. 23;

    iii. Satvinder Kaur Vs. State (Govt. Of NCT of Delhi) and Anr. 5
    particularly in paragraph nos. 14 and 16;

    3
    (1996) 7 SCC 705;

    4

    2025 INSC 818;

    5

    (1999) 8 SCC 728;

    15

    iv. Mushtaq Ahmad Vs. Mohd. Habibur Rehman Faizi and Ors. 6.

    ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS OF THIS COURT: –

    35. This Court has carefully heard the arguments and submissions made

    by the learned counsels appearing on behalf of the respective parties

    and upon perusal of the complaint and judgments relied by the

    parties, the principal questions which arise for consideration are as

    follows: –

    i. Whether the complaint filed by the Deputy Registrar of Companies

    is maintainable in view of section 439(2) of the Companies Act,

    2013?

    ii. Whether the complaint is barred by limitation?

    iii. Whether the alleged contraventions of Section 129 read with

    Section 448 of the Companies Act, 2013 are prima facie made out?

    iv. Whether the prosecution against the petitioner/Auditor is

    sustainable in the absence of the company being arraigned as an

    accused?

    36. At the outset, it is pertinent to note that the allegations in the

    impugned complaints primarily pertain to contravention of Section

    129 of the Companies Act, 2013, relating to the preparation of

    financial statements, which allegedly do not reflect a true and fair

    view of the affairs of the company. The petitioner, however, has been

    6
    (1996) 7 SCC 440.

    16

    sought to be prosecuted solely under Section 448 of the Companies

    Act, 2013, which provides punishment for making a false statement

    in any return, report, certificate, financial statement or other

    document required under the Act.

    37. The core contention raised by the petitioner is that the complaints fail

    to disclose any specific allegation that the petitioner, in his capacity

    as statutory auditor, knowingly made a false statement or

    intentionally concealed any material fact in the financial statements

    of the companies. A careful reading of the complaint petitions reveals

    that the allegations are largely directed against the company and its

    directors, and no particular overt act has been attributed to the

    petitioner that would bring his conduct within the ambit of Section

    448 of the Companies Act.

    38. It is well settled that criminal liability cannot be fastened in the

    absence of specific allegations disclosing the essential ingredients of

    the offence alleged. In this context, the Hon’ble Supreme Court in

    Sunil Bharti Mittal v. Central Bureau of Investigation 7 has held

    that criminal liability of officers of a company cannot be inferred

    merely because of their designation unless there are clear allegations

    demonstrating their active role coupled with criminal intent.

    7
    (2015) 4 SCC 609
    17

    39. In the present case, the petitioner is a statutory auditor, whose duties

    are governed by the provisions of the Companies Act and the

    applicable accounting standards. The responsibility of preparing

    financial statements primarily lies with the management and

    directors of the company, whereas the auditor’s role is limited to

    examining such statements and expressing an opinion thereon based

    on the material available.

    40. The allegation against the petitioner essentially relates to the non-

    disclosure of Specified Bank Notes (SBN) during the demonetization

    period in the balance sheet of the company. However, the petitioner

    has contended that the alleged omission, if any, was neither

    deliberate nor intended to conceal any material fact, and that the

    balance sheets in question were prepared based on the records and

    information furnished by the management of the company.

    41. For invoking Section 448 of the Companies Act, it must be

    demonstrated that the accused knowingly made a false statement or

    omitted a material fact with knowledge of its falsity. The complaint,

    however, does not disclose any material suggesting that the petitioner

    had the requisite mens rea or fraudulent intent.

    42. The allegation of the Deputy Registrar in the written complaint before

    the Trial Court, with regard to the offence committed by the

    Petitioner, is under Section 448 of the Companies Act, 2013.
    18

    “3.5 The company did not disclose any related party transactions
    violating Accounting Standard-18. But the auditor reported that “In
    our opinion the aforesaid financial statements comply with the
    Accounting Standards specified under section 133 of the Act read
    with Rule 7 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules 2014.” The auditor
    has violated the provisions of Section 448 of the companies Act,
    2013.

    Hence, the accused nos. 3 herein is liable U/s 448 of the
    companies Act, 2013.

    3.6 According to the profit and loss account for 2016-17 total
    income for the year was Rs.22.11 lakhs. But trade receivable lying
    due for within six months was stated as Rs.47.83 lakhs. If total
    income was only around of Rs. 22.00 lakhs how Rs.47.00 is trade
    receivable having age less than 6 months. i.e. arising within the
    year 2016-17 itself? The accounts are fudged and fiddled. The
    Auditor being in connivance with management, did not report
    anything. The Auditor and the Directors violated section 448 of the
    Companies Act, 2013.”

    43. The complaint was made on 22nd November, 2019, by the Deputy

    Registrar of Companies, West Bengal, Kolkata, before the Court of the

    Learned Second Special Judge at Kolkata.

    44. The first issue raised by the petitioner herein is that the Deputy

    Registrar is not the competent authorised person to lodge a complaint

    as aforesaid. To decide the same, this court would like to examine the

    provision stipulated in Section 439 (2) of the Companies Act, 2013.
    19

    S. 439. Offences to be non-cognizable. –

    (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 or a member of the company, or of a person
    authorized 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 authorised 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.”

    45. In the instant case, it is not disputed that the complaint has been

    filed by Deputy Registrar of Companies (Vineet Rai), which is not a

    complaint in writing filed by the Registrar, a shareholder or a member

    of the company, or of a person authorised by the Central

    Government. However, as per section 2 (75) of the Companies Act

    2013, the term “registrar” means a registrar, an additional registrar, a

    joint registrar, a deputy registrar or an assistant registrar having the

    duty of registering companies and discharging various functions

    under the Act. Therefore, since the terminology and definition of the

    term ‘registrar’ means and includes a Deputy Registrar as well, it can

    be conclusively said that he is accordingly duly empowered to file the

    instant complaint case before the Court of the Learned Second
    20

    Special Judge at Kolkata. Therefore, the complaint made by the

    Deputy Registrar of the company is well maintainable in law.

    46. So far as the issue relating to the bar by limitation for initiation of

    proceedings is concerned, this court finds the complaint is not barred

    by limitation because the alleged offence committed by the company

    and its director between the period 8th November, 2016 to 30th

    December, 2016, is for non-disclosure of specified bank notes. The

    complaint was made in the month of November, 2019. The offence

    under section 129 of the Companies Act shall be punishable with

    imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine

    which shall not be less than Fifty Thousand Rupees but which may

    extend to Five Lakh Rupees, or with both and insofar as Section 448

    of the Companies Act, 2013, any person makes a statement (a) which

    is false in any material particulars, knowing it to be false or (b) which

    omits any material fact, knowing it to be material, he shall be liable

    under Section 447 of the Companies Act, 2013, which provides for

    maximum imprisonment up to 10 years, Hence, the period of

    limitation for instituting the case is not at all barred under Section

    468 of the Cr.P.C.

    47. Another point raised by the petitioner herein with regard to the

    information given by an interloper/third party is based on a lack of

    particulars. The complaint itself is bereft of particulars. No specific
    21

    allegation was made in the complaint against the petitioner. A vague

    and general allegation attributed against the petitioner is not a

    sufficient basis to proceed with the criminal offence. There should be

    specific allegations with better particulars, but in the present case,

    the same is missing.

    48. Regardless of the interpretational dispute, it is evident that the

    allegation is of non-disclosure in the balance sheet and not of

    fabrication of accounts or falsification of records. Section 448 of the

    Companies Act contemplates punishment for “false statement”, which

    necessarily imports an element of deliberate falsity and mens rea.

    49. From the complaint and materials placed, this Court does not find

    any specific allegation that the petitioner made any statement

    knowing it to be false. At best, the allegation is of omission to disclose

    particulars in a particular format.

    50. It is not a disputed fact that the company has not been named as an

    accused in the present case. Only the directors and the statutory

    Auditor have been made out as the accused in the instant case.

    51. No specific allegation regarding non-disclosure of any statement,

    known to be false or suppressed, is mentioned in the complaint

    lodged by the complainant. The allegations contained in the

    complaint are insufficient to allow the proceedings against the

    present petitioner because it would only be an abuse of process of law
    22

    since the allegations are vague and general in nature. Even for the

    sake of argument, if it continued, it would be merely useless because

    the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak. Continuation of

    criminal cases would put the accused to great oppression and

    prejudice, and extreme injustice would be caused to him by not

    quashing the criminal case.

    52. Furthermore, proceedings against the directors of the company have

    been quashed by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in the case of

    CRR No. 4526 of 2024 [Arup Mookerjee vs. The Registrar of

    Companies, West Bengal] with CRR 1805 of 2020 [Archana

    Chakraborty vs. The Registrar of Companies, West Bengal] dated 28 th

    March, 2025 and by this Bench in the case of CRR 1806 of 2020

    (Apurba Mookerjee Vs. The Registrar of Companies, West Bengal).

    Therefore, this court extends the same privilege to the petitioner

    herein since the allegation against the petitioner is non-specific,

    vague and without material particulars.

    53. Upon consideration of the above factors, this Court is of the view that

    continuation of the proceeding against the petitioner would amount

    to abuse of process of law and for securing ends of justice; proceeding

    against the petitioner is required to be quashed.
    23

    54. Consequently, CRR No. 1881 of 2020 and CRR No. 1883 of 2020

    are allowed. Connected applications, if any, are also thus, disposed

    of.

    55. The proceedings being Complaint Case No. 44/2019 and Complaint

    Case No. 43/2019 now pending before the Learned Judge, 2 nd Special

    Court at Kolkata under Section 448 of the Companies Act, 2013 are

    hereby quashed insofar as the petitioner herein is concerned and all

    orders passed therein are hereby set aside.

    56. Let a copy of this Judgment be sent to the Learned Trial Court for

    information.

    57. Interim order, if any, stands vacated.

    58. Case diary, if any, be returned to the learned counsel for the State.

    59. All parties shall act on the basis of a server copy of this judgment

    duly downloaded from the official website of this Court.

    60. Urgent photostat certified copy of this Judgment, if applied for, is to

    be given as expeditiously to the parties on compliance of all legal

    formalities.

    (Ajay Kumar Gupta, J.)

    P. Adak (P.A.)



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