• Shares bought without my consent

I am founder of a company who went in spat with investors as I was against underreporting of losses in the books and as they asked me to not question auditors and were flashing fictitious recovery notices to customers, forcing employees to leave, after best of tries I reported this to ROC n when no action was taken by auditors and ROC formally submitted my resignation with request to be relieved in Nov 17, to which they responded denying all stating that board will decide. A week later a big auditor was appointed to do fronesic audit.
I kept requesting for clearance but there was silence. Finally on 5th when a news on above came in press, same-day was issued a showcause notice to which I responded & later they stated it was unfortunate and let's reconcile.. I kept demanding relieving and finally in April end a director on board met me n said to exit at Rs 10 per share n withdraw complaints. I asked for a written offer and responded that get valuation done am ready to exit and if the value is Re 10 I will buy you all. Again there was silence to my repeated requests.When I finally said will take legal action in June got auto alert fm ROC that DIR-12 is filed. I kept asking for dues & as there was no response, Finally in Aug I wrote to Chairman of one fund who is state n public sector funded with copy to Chief secretary & soon nominee director of fund responded asking me 2 speak to company. When I responded stating that it was you who has asked me to only talk to you. Last week I found the ROC has been changed, n Nominee director sacked, n board of company changed. On 31st Aug when the state funded MD was questioned he said we are no more a majority n by evening I received a mail from the company that my shares have been taken over in ESOP @ Re 10 with a letter where I am acussed of mis conduct n usual blames. My questions are:
Can my shares be taken without my consent.
Auditors involved in this are among top names internationally who remained quiet on my objections n questions.
Funds involved are a HNI, a Global fund thru rep in india. & A famous state fund & my partner who was brought in by me n made CEO.
Since have been forced out the company had declined.
Thou ROC was shifted in same state but last six numbers have changed apart from all investors have removed there representative from board in last 20 days.
ROC has so far not answered me on my complaints, had even met officals in MCA as advised by MOS who called ROC to act.
My crime is I have objected to fudging of books n have proofs. To silence me they have made me sit jobless fm a year. Soon state got involved there is change in ROC. Also they have filed caveats in June in three states.
I want value of my share. Value of co in 2016 was 122 cr post investment n as per last BS I hold 19.8 % & after diluation 8.5%. 
Can I get those involved booked in criminal acts.
More than money I want these culprits to be punished.
Anyone willing???
Asked 5 years ago in Business Law

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5 Answers

You should forward a complaint to SFIO (Serious Fraud Investigation Office) which is a corporate fraud investigating agency in India to take actions against the illlegal acts of investors with the evidences you have against them.

Criminal complaint under section 406 /420 /468 of Indian Penal Code for criminal breach of trust fraud and forgery can also be lodged against them.

You can also Institute private complaint under 200 CRPC to Magistrate to order investigation the aforesaid matter.

A complaint to Economic Offences Wing can be given too as your shares cannot be taken without your consent, citing disciplinary action.

Siddharth Jain
Advocate, New Delhi
6303 Answers
102 Consultations

5.0 on 5.0

You can file Police complaint against management of fabrication of documents , cheating if accounts have been fudged

2) you can file application in company tribunal to direct investigations of accounts and submit report

3) Application can be made under section 241 of companies act 2013 if affairs of company are being conducted in manner prejudicial to interests of company

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
94722 Answers
7532 Consultations

5.0 on 5.0

1. no the same could not have been done.

2. You may file a case before the NCLT.

Get in touch with an advocate who is an expert in company law with all the documents and file a petition.

Regard s

Anilesh Tewari
Advocate, New Delhi
18078 Answers
377 Consultations

5.0 on 5.0

Hi

1) It appears that it is a case of Oppression and Mismanagement coming under section 241 of companies Act.

your remedy lies in approaching the National COmpany Law tribunal.

2) Filing of caveat in NCLT does not make any sense given that NCLT proceedings are always in presence of both parties and interim injunctions per se are not granted in company matters.

3) The NCLT having jurisidiction over the registered office of the company will try your claim under section 241 of companies act.

4) To answer your questions-

a) The extent of shareholding of an individual(19.8% to 8.5%) cannot be diluted without Extra ordinary general body meeting held by the company and any such arbitrary reduction is vulnerable for court (NCLT) review

Also only NCLT has jurisdiction to try company law related matters. Your letters to ROC might be of some help in your case.

Hope this information is useful.

Rajgopalan Sripathi
Advocate, Hyderabad
2173 Answers
394 Consultations

5.0 on 5.0

A complaint with the Economics Offences wing, Police may be lodged for the misappropriation of funds or embezzlement charges etc, this is besides the actions that are proposed to be taken through other provisions of law in this regard.

Registrars of Companies (ROC) appointed under Section 396 of the Companies Act 2013 (whiz 609 of the Companies Act, 1956) which covers various States and Union Territories that are conferred with the primary duty of registering LLPs and companies established in the respective states and the Union Territories and to ensure that such companies and LLPs comply with statutory requirements under the provision of the Act.

Any aggrieved person against a company or an investor can file a complaint with the Registrar of the Company or the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

If a person is aggrieved by a fraud committed by a company, then such person can report the complaint with Service Fraud Investigation Office. “The Government in the backdrop of major failure of non-banking financial institutions, phenomenon of vanishing companies, plantation companies and the recent stock market scam had decided to set up Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), a multi-disciplinary organization to investigate corporate frauds. The Organization has been established and it has started functioning since 1st October, 2003

here are no specific legislations or Act governing the functioning and jurisdiction of SFIO. Thus, Companies Act 1956 guide its operation. Investigations used to be carried out under section 235 and 237 of the Companies Act,1956. Under these provisions, the Central Government (under section 235) or the Tribunal/Company Law Board/Court (under section 237) could order investigation of any company or group of Companies by the SFIO. But after the enactment of Companies Act, 2013, SFIO has been guided by this Act, and it follows the scope and statutory status of this Act.

you may take the assistance of a skilled lawyer who practices in this filed for further advises and guidances.

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
84921 Answers
2195 Consultations

5.0 on 5.0

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