Capgemini Tecnology Services India Limited
- CitationRBI Compounding Order CA No. MUM908/2019
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
The compounding authority holds that a company which has admitted a contravention of the reporting obligation under Para 9(2) of FEMA 20 and Regulation 13.1(3) of FEMA 20R, by failing to file or delaying the Annual Return on Foreign Liabilities and Assets, may have that contravention compounded under the Foreign Exchange (Compounding Proceedings) Rules, 2000, on payment of a sum fixed by the authority in exercise of its discretion under section 15(1) of FEMA, notwithstanding that the maximum statutory penalty under section 13 is up to three times the sum involved, where the authority is satisfied on the facts and circumstances before it that a lenient view is warranted. Compounding is available only where the contravention is admitted, and the authority is not bound to accept the applicant's characterisation of the delay as inadvertent; it may proceed on the averments in the application, the documents on record and the submissions made at hearing. Where the applicant has declared a pending enquiry, investigation or adjudication by the Directorate of Enforcement and that agency has not objected within the time allowed under the proviso to Rule 8(2) of the Compounding Rules, the authority may proceed to compound, and the order is without prejudice to any action by any other authority under the extant laws and does not restrict proceedings for other contraventions.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
In the Reserve Bank of India Foreign Exchange Department Mumbai Regional Office Main Building, 3rd floor Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg, Fort Mumbai 400 001 Present Shri J.K. Pandey Chief General Manager September 25, 2019 CA No. MUM908/2019 In the matter of M/s Capgemini Technology Services India Ltd Plot No.14, Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, Hinjewadi Phase-III, MIDC-SEZ, Village Man, Taluka Mulshi, Pune 411 057 (Applicant) In exercise of the powers conferred under section 15(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 and the Regulations/Rules/Notifications/Orders made thereunder, I pass the following Order 1 The applicant has filed the compounding application dated May 06, 2019, received at the Reserve Bank on May 23, 2019, for compounding of contravention/s of the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (the FEMA) and the regulations issued thereunder. The contravention/s sought to be compounded are in respect of the following Regulations/ paras under Schedule 1 to Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident outside India) Regulations 2000, notified vide Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000 as amended from time to time (hereinafter referred to as FEMA 20) and Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident outside India) Regulations 2017, notified vide Notification No FEMA 20R/2017 RB dated November 07, 2017, as amended from time to time (hereinafter referred to as FEMA 20R):
FED, MRO, CEFA, M/s Capgemini Technology Services India Ltd, CA No: MUM 908/2019 (i) Para 9 (2) of FEMA 20 and Regulation 13.1 (3) of FEMA 20R: Delay in filing ‘Annual Return on Foreign Liabilities and Assets’ (FLA Returns). 2 Brief details of the applicant company are as follows: Date of Incorporation December 27, 1993 Its main activities are: Providing Software support and maintenance
3 The company has not filed/delayed in filing the Annual Return on Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA return) to the Reserve Bank of India for the Financial Years 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017- 18. Whereas, in terms of Para 9(2) of FEMA 20 and Regulation 13.1 (3) of FEMA 20(R), all Indian companies which have received Foreign Direct Investment in the previous years including the current year, shall submit to the Reserve Bank of India, on or before the due date (as applicable) each year, a report titled ‘Annual Return on Foreign Liabilities and Assets’ as specified by the Reserve Bank from time to time.
4 The applicant was given an opportunity for personal hearing, for further submission in person and/or for producing documents, if any, in support of the application vide e-mail dated September 17, 2019. The applicant appeared for personal hearing on September 20, 2019, during which Ms Armin Billimoria, Company Secretary of the company and Ms Deepali Rangwani, Consultant represented the applicant in the cabin of Shri J.K. Pandey, Chief General Manager, Mumbai Regional Office. The representatives of the applicant admitted the contravention for which compounding has been sought. During the hearing it was submitted that delay was inadvertent and unintentional. The representatives of the applicant requested that in view of the foregoing a lenient view may be taken in disposal of the application. The application for compounding is, therefore, being considered on the basis of the averments made in the application as well as other documents and submissions made in this context by the applicant during personal hearing and thereafter. 5 I have given my careful consideration to the documents on record and submissions made by the applicant during the personal hearing and thereafter. Accordingly, I hold that the applicant has contravened the following FEMA provisions issued in terms of:
(i) Para 9 (2) of FEMA 20 and Regulation 13.1 (3) of FEMA 20R, due to non-filing/delay in filing of Annual Return on Foreign Liabilities and Assets for the Financial Years 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18.
FED, MRO, CEFA, M/s Capgemini Technology Services India Ltd, CA No: MUM 908/2019
6 It has been declared in the compounding application dated May 06, 2019 that the particulars given by the applicant in the application are true and correct to the best of their/his/her knowledge and belief. It has also been declared in a declaration attached to the compounding application that the applicant is under an enquiry/investigation/adjudication by Directorate of Enforcement as on the date of application. Accordingly RBI, vide letter FED.MRO.CEFA/4928/76.01.122/2018-19 dated June 11, 2019 had sought comments from Directorate of Enforcement to be furnished within 30 days as to whether it had objection, if any, in terms of the Proviso to Rule 8(2) of the Compounding Rules to compounding of contraventions sought to be compounded by the applicant. A reminder dated July 18, 2019 was issued to Directorate of Enforcement in this regard giving another 7 days to respond. Directorate of Enforcement has not furnished any response in the matter. Accordingly, the above contraventions which are being compounded in this Order, is without prejudice to any action which may be taken by any authority under the extant laws.
7 In terms of Section 13 of the FEMA, any person contravening any provision of the Act shall be liable to a penalty up to thrice the sum involved in such contravention upon adjudication. However, taking into account the relevant facts and circumstances of the case as stated in the foregoing paragraphs, I am persuaded to take a lenient view on the amount for which the contraventions are to be compounded and I consider that an amount of Rs.1,00,000 (Rupees One Lakh and Zero Paise Only) will meet the ends of justice. 8 Accordingly, I compound the admitted contravention/s namely, the contravention/s of Para 9 (2) of FEMA 20 and Regulation 13.1 (3) of FEMA 20R, by the applicant, on the facts discussed above in terms of the Foreign Exchange (Compounding Proceedings) Rules, 2000 on payment of an amount of Rs. 1,00,000 (Rupees One Lakh and Zero Paise Only) which shall be deposited by the applicant with the Reserve Bank of India, Foreign Exchange Department, Mumbai Regional Office, Main Building, 3rd floor, Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg, Fort, Mumbai-400001 by a demand draft drawn in favour of the "Reserve Bank of India" and payable at Mumbai within a period of 15 days from the date of this order.
In case of failure to deposit the compounded amount within the above-mentioned period, Rule 10 of the Foreign Exchange (Compounding Proceedings) Rules, 2000 dated May 3, 2000 shall apply. 9 The above order is passed only in respect of contraventions of Para 9 (2) of FEMA 20 and Regulation 13.1 (3) of FEMA 20R and does not restrict the right of any other authority to proceed against the Company for any other violations/contraventions noticed at any point of time. 10 The application is disposed of accordingly. dated: September 25, 2019 Compounding Authority sd/- (J.K. Pandey) Chief General Manager
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