Interim Order against the past Directors of Magnox Infraprojects Limited, viz. Shri Manoj Kumar Pradhan
- CitationWTM/SR/SEBI–ERO/IMD/179/11/2015
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
A director who held office during an offer of securities that the earlier final order found to be a public issue of securities, and who thereby engaged in fund mobilisation from the public, is answerable for that violation under the Companies Act, 1956 provisions (ss. 56, 60 and 73) that impose liability on every director or person responsible for the offer. SEBI may proceed against such a director under s. 27(2) of the SEBI Act, 1992, notwithstanding that the director had ceased to hold office before the order was passed. Where SEBI has prima facie found such a violation by past directors, it may, pending show-cause proceedings on final directions, under ss. 11, 11(4), 11A and 11B of the SEBI Act, restrain those directors from issuing any prospectus, offer document or advertisement soliciting money from the public, from accessing or dealing in the securities market, and from disposing of assets, by requiring a full inventory of their assets and properties.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
WTM/SR/SEBI – ERO/IMD/179/11/2015 BEFORE THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA, MUMBAI CORAM: S. RAMAN, WHOLE TIME MEMBER ORDER Under Sections 11, 11(4), 11A and 11B of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, against the past Directors of Magnox Infraprojects Limited, viz. Shri Manoj Kumar Pradhan (PAN: ALYPP9588R; DIN: 03618675), Shri Bhimsen Soren (PAN: CKHPS4470D; DIN: 03618672), Shri Rasmiranjan Swain (PAN: DEXPS0145Q; DIN: 03616716), Shri Jyotiranjan Panda (PAN: BEAPP0928K; DIN: 03616711), Shri Anil Kumar Senapati (PAN: CWDPS5006B; DIN: 03616708) and Shri Amrit Bhunia (PAN: BCXPB3598L; DIN: 03616701).
1. Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI") vide an Order bearing no. WTM/PS/36/ERO/AUGUST/2015 dated August 13, 2015 ("Final Order"), passed certain directions as mentioned at paragraph 10.1 thereof, against Magnox Infraprojects Limited ("MIL") and its Directors, viz. Shri Dipankar Das, Shri Sudip Rauth, Shri Debasish Debnath, Shri Samrat Bikash Barua, Shri Vim Cent Pal and Shri Purnendu Sekhar Halder, for violating the provisions of Section 56, Section 60 read with Section 2(36), Section 73 of the Companies Act, 1956 read with Section 27(2) of the SEBI Act, 1992 (“SEBI Act”), by engaging in fund mobilising activity from the public, through the issue of Redeemable Preference Shares ("Offer of RPS"). 2. As per the findings contained in the Final Order, the offer and allotment of Redeemable Preference Shares made by MIL to 2110 investors during the Financial Year 2012–2013, has been held to be a public issue of securities in accordance with the first proviso to Section 67(3) of the Companies Act, 1956.
3.1 It has now come to SEBI's notice that the following persons were earlier Directors of MIL during the Offer of RPS –
Sr. Name PAN DIN Date of Date of No appointment cessation 1. Manoj Kumar Pradhan ALYPP9588R 03618675 October 28, 2011 June 15, 2012 2. Bhimsen Soren CKHPS4470D 03618672 October 28, 2011 December 30, 2013 3. Rasmiranjan Swain DEXPS0145Q 03616716 October 28, 2011 June 15, 2012 4. Jyotiranjan Panda BEAPP0928K 03616711 October 28, 2011 September 23, 2013 5. Anil Kumar Senapati CWDPS5006B 03616708 October 28, 2011 June 15, 2012 6. Amrit Bhunia BCXPB3598L 03616701 October 28, 2011 December 30, 2013
3.2 In this context, it is noted that – i. Section 56(1) and 56(3) read with Section 56(4) of the Companies Act, 1956, imposes liability for compliance of the aforesaid provisions, on the company, every Director and other persons responsible for the issuance of the prospectus.
ii. Section 60 of the Companies Act, 1956, imposes liability for compliance of the aforesaid provision, on the company and every person who is a party to the issue of the Prospectus.
iii. Section 73(2) of Companies Act, 1956, imposes liability for compliance of Section 73, on the company and every Director of the company who is an Officer in default. iv. Section 27(2) of the SEBI Act provides SEBI with inter alia the power to proceed against Director(s) of companies who have illegally mobilized funds from the public through the issue of securities.
3.3 Upon a consideration of the aforementioned paragraphs, I am of the view that Shri Manoj Kumar Pradhan, Shri Bhimsen Soren, Shri Rasmiranjan Swain, Shri Jyotiranjan Panda, Shri Anil Kumar Senapati and Shri Amrit Bhunia, were also engaged in fund mobilising activity from the public, in their capacity as Directors of MIL, through the Offer of RPS and as a result of the aforesaid activity, have violated the aforementioned provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 and the SEBI Act.
4. In view of the alleged violations by the abovementioned past Directors, I, in exercise of the powers conferred upon me under Sections 11, 11(4), 11A and 11B of the SEBI Act, hereby issue the following directions – i. The past Directors of MIL, viz. Shri Manoj Kumar Pradhan (PAN: ALYPP9588R; DIN: 03618675), Shri Bhimsen Soren (PAN: CKHPS4470D; DIN: 03618672), Shri Rasmiranjan Swain (PAN: DEXPS0145Q; DIN: 03616716), Shri Jyotiranjan Panda (PAN: BEAPP0928K; DIN: 03616711), Shri Anil Kumar Senapati (PAN: CWDPS5006B; DIN: 03616708) and Shri Amrit Bhunia (PAN: BCXPB3598L; DIN: 03616701), are prohibited from issuing prospectus or any offer document or issue advertisement for soliciting money from the public for the issue of securities, in any manner whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, till further orders; ii. The abovementioned past Directors of MIL are restrained from accessing the securities market and further prohibited from buying, selling or otherwise dealing in the securities market, either directly or indirectly, till further directions; iii. The abovementioned past Directors of MIL shall provide a full inventory of all their assets and properties.
5.1 The abovementioned past Directors of MIL are advised to show cause as to why suitable directions/prohibitions under Sections 11(1), 11(4), 11A and 11B of the SEBI Act, Section 73(2) of the Companies Act read with Section 27(2) of the SEBI Act including the following, should not be taken/imposed against them:
i. Directing them jointly and severally to refund money collected through the Offer of Preference Shares alongwith interest, if any, promised to investors therein; ii. Directing them not to issue prospectus or any offer document or issue advertisement for soliciting money from the public for the issue of securities, in any manner whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, for an appropriate period; iii. Directing them to refrain from accessing the securities market and prohibiting them from buying, selling or otherwise dealing in securities for an appropriate period.
5.2 The abovementioned past Directors of MIL, may, within 21 days from the date of receipt of this Order, file their reply, if any, to this Order and may also indicate whether they desire to avail themselves an opportunity of personal hearing on a date and time to be fixed on a specific request made in that regard.
6. This Order is without prejudice to the right of SEBI to take any other action that may be initiated against the abovementioned past Directors of MIL in accordance with law.
7. This Order shall be read with the Final Order, copy of which is enclosed with this Order.
8. A copy of this Order shall be served on all recognized stock exchanges and depositories for necessary action.
Place: Mumbai S. RAMAN Date: November 20, 2015 WHOLE TIME MEMBER SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA
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