M/s Rondo Metal Systems Private Limited
- CitationRBI Compounding Order CA No. MUM831/2019
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
The compounding authority holds that, where a company admits a contravention of the reporting obligation in Para 9(2) of FEMA 20 and Regulation 13.1(3) of FEMA 20R (non-filing or delay in filing the Annual Return on Foreign Liabilities and Assets), that admitted contravention may be compounded under section 15(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 and the Foreign Exchange (Compounding Proceedings) Rules, 2000, on payment of a sum fixed by the authority in lieu of the penalty that could otherwise be imposed under section 13. The compounding authority further holds that the compounding order is conditional on the veracity of the applicant's declarations that it was not under any enquiry, investigation or adjudication and had filed no appeal under sections 17 or 19 of FEMA, and that it is without prejudice to any other action if those declarations are later found false or incorrect. The compounding authority further holds that the compounding of a contravention under Para 9(2) of FEMA 20 and Regulation 13.1(3) of FEMA 20R does not restrict the right of any other authority to proceed against the company for any other contravention.
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 April 10, 2019 CA No. MUM831/2019 In the matter of M/s Rondo Metal Systems Pvt Ltd Office No.5-A, Clan House Plot No 161/A, SICHS Ltd, Next to Acres Club, Hemu Kalani Marg, Chembur, Mumbai 400 071 (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 January 22, 2019, received at the Reserve Bank on February 01, 2019, for compounding of contravention/s of the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (the FEMA) and the regulations issued thereunder. The contraventions 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 and 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 refered to as FEMA 20R):
FED, MRO, CEFA, M/s Rondo Metal Systems Pvt Ltd, CA No: MUM 831/2019 a) 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 facts of the applicant company are as follows: Date of Incorporation July 20, 2009 Its main activities are: Manufacture of other structural metal products. Maunfacture of steel parts in cold process which involves bending, profiling and shearing operations and further provide complete system with design engineering and installation of ceiling sysem drywall steel stud system plaster and render finishing sections and access panels. NIC-25119
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 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18. Whereas, in terms of Paragraph 9(2) of Schedule 1 to Notification No. FEMA 20 and Regulation 13.1 (3) of Notification No. 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 April 03, 2019. The applicant appeared for personal hearing on April 08, 2019, during which Mr Prakash K. Pandya, Liquidator and Mr Tanmay S. Varadkar, Assistant to Liquidator of the company 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: a) 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 2009- 10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18.
FED, MRO, CEFA, M/s Rondo Metal Systems Pvt Ltd, CA No: MUM 831/2019
6 It has been declared in the compounding application dated January 22, 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 was not under any enquiry/investigation/adjudication by any agency as on the date of the application and has, in this regard, not informed of initiation of any such enquiry/investigation/ adjudication proceedings against it/him/her thereafter. It has further been declared that the applicant has not filed any appeal under section 17 or section 19 of FEMA, 1999. Accordingly, the above contraventions which are being compounded in this Order are subject to the veracity of the above declarations made by the applicant and this order is without prejudice to any other action which may be taken by any authority under the extant laws if the said declarations are subsequently discovered to be false and/or incorrect. 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.90,000 (Rupees Ninety Thousand 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. 90,000 (Rupees Ninety Thousand 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: April 10, 2019 Compounding Authority (J.K. Pandey) Chief General Manager
FED, MRO, CEFA, M/s Rondo Metal Systems Pvt Ltd, CA No: MUM 831/2019
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