Shopsense Retail Technologies Private Limited
- CitationRBI Compounding Order CA No. MUM912/2019
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
This is a compounding order under section 15(1) of FEMA, not a judgment of a court, and it decides contraventions on the basis of the applicant's admissions and documents. The reasoning it does contain is the compounding authority's determination that two reporting obligations under FEMA 20 were contravened and that a lenient, reduced compounding sum would serve the ends of justice. The following principles are what the order rests on: A person who fails to report receipt of foreign inward remittance for issue of shares to a non-resident within the period prescribed by Para 9(1)(A) of FEMA 20 (not later than 30 days from receipt of consideration) contravenes that provision, and the delay is a contravention whatever its length within the period found to be unreported. An Indian company that fails to submit Form FC-GPR within the period prescribed by Para 9(1)(B) of FEMA 20 (within 30 days of issue of shares to a non-resident) contravenes that provision, irrespective of whether the delay was inadvertent or unintentional. Where late submission fees have already been paid under Regulation 13.2 of FEMA 20R/2017-RB for a reporting delay, that delay is not taken into account in computing the sum for compounding the contravention under section 15(1). The sum for compounding is fixed by the compounding authority in the exercise of its discretion under section 15(1) and the Foreign Exchange (Compounding Proceedings) Rules, 2000, having regard to the relevant facts and circumstances, and may be set well below the maximum penalty of thrice the sum involved provided for under section 13 of FEMA.
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 17, 2019 CA No. MUM912/2019 In the matter of M/s Shopsense Retail Technologies Private Limited 5th Floor, Part B Corporate Centre, Andheri Kurla Road, J B Nagar, Andheri (East) Mumbai- 400059 (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 June 06, 2019, received at the Reserve Bank on June 06, 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 and as amended from time to time (hereinafter referred to as FEMA 20): (i) Para 9 (1) (A) of FEMA 20: Delay in reporting receipt of foreign inward remittance towards subscription to equity
FED, MRO, CEFA, M/s Shopsense Retail Technologies Private Limited, CA No: MUM 912/2019 (ii) Para 9 (1) (B) of FEMA 20: Delay in filing Form FC GPR to Reserve Bank after issue of shares to person resident outside India 2 Brief details of the applicant company are as follows: Date of Incorporation September 27, 2012 Its main activities are: Activities of other commission agents.
3 The applicant received foreign inward remittances from non-resident investors towards equity shares / compulsorily convertible preference shares/ compulsorily convertible debentures and it reported the same to the Reserve Bank on dates as indicated below. Delay in reporting Foreign Direct Investment &/or delay in allotting the shares/ refunding the amount (whereas, "Y" represents delay in number of years, "M" represents delay in number of months and "D" represents delay in number of days, and LSF stands for : Late Submission Fees Sr. Date of Amount received Date of Para 9 (1) A Date of Para 8 No/ inward (in INR) reporting to delay allotment delay LSF remittanc RBI / refund e (DD-MM-YY) (DD-MM-YY) (DD-MM-YY) 1 11-07-13 96,85,740.00 27-04-15 1Y 8M 16D 01-07-13 0Y 0M 0D 2 12-06-14 1,06,63,200.00 07-08-14 0Y 0M 25D 30-06-14 0Y 0M 0D 3 14-11-14 1,08,28,504.00 13-01-15 0Y 0M 29D 14-11-14 0Y 0M 0D 4 05-10-15 1,50,00,000.00 20-01-16 0Y 2M 15D 14-12-15 0Y 0M 0D 5 26-10-16 3,31,86,586.23 26-11-16 0 19-11-16 0Y 0M 0D 6 27-10-16 1,66,05,763.83 26-11-16 0 19-11-16 0Y 0M 0D 7 07-11-16 1,32,66,330.85 19-12-16 0Y 0M 11D 19-11-16 0Y 0M 0D 8 07-11-16 1,32,66,330.85 19-12-16 0Y 0M 11D 19-11-16 0Y 0M 0D 9 07-11-16 1,32,67,657.85 19-12-16 0Y 0M 11D 19-11-16 0Y 0M 0D 10 07-11-16 33,14,146.01 19-12-16 0Y 0M 11D 19-11-16 0Y 0M 0D 11 07-04-17 12,83,318.58 29-01-18 0Y 8M 22D 06-05-17 0Y 0M 0D 12 16-06-17 1,14,61,203.00 12-01-18 0Y 5M 26D 07-07-17 0Y 0M 0D 13 31-10-17 3,20,21,403.00 23-01-18 0Y 1M 22D 01-12-17 0Y 0M 0D 14 12-01-18 32,50,000.00 24-01-18 0 31-01-18 0Y 0M 0D LSF 19,54,789.20 10-05-18 LSF Paid 29-03-18 0Y 0M 0D Paid 05-03-18 LSF 99,99,940.35 09-05-18 LSF Paid 29-03-18 0Y 0M 0D Paid 20-03-18 LSF 45,46,77,087.30 10-05-18 LSF Paid 29-03-18 0Y 0M 0D Paid 27-03-18 TOTAL 65,37,32,001.00
FED, MRO, CEFA, M/s Shopsense Retail Technologies Private Limited, CA No: MUM 912/2019
In terms of Para 9 (1) (A) of FEMA 20, an Indian company issuing shares or compulsory convertible debentures or compulsory convertible preference shares in accordance with these Regulations should report to the Reserve Bank of India as per the prescribed procedure not later than 30 days from the date of receipt of the amount of consideration. However the applicant company reported receipt of remittances to the Reserve Bank of India on dates indicated above in 11 out of 17 total remittances with a delay ranging from 0Y 0M 11D to 1Y 8M 16D. In case of the remittance/s amounting to Rs. 46,66,31,817 (Rupees Forty Six Crore Sixty Six Lakh Thirty One Thousand Eight Hundred Seventeen and Zero Paise Only)indicated in the above table as "LSF Paid", they were also reported with a delay. In terms of Regulation 13.2 of FEMA 20R/2017-RB, the person/ entity responsible for filing the reports stipulated in Regulation 13.1 shall be liable for payment of late submission fee, as may be decided by the Reserve Bank, in consultation with the Central Government, for any delays in reporting. Since the applicant has already deposited the LSF amount, this delay has not been taken into consideration for computing the amount for compounding the contraventions.
4 The company allotted equity shares/compulsorily convertible preference shares/compulsorily convertible debentures and filed FC-GPRs as indicated below:
Delay in filing Form FCGPR (whereas, "Y" represents delay in number of years, "M" represents delay in number of months and "D" represents delay in number of days, LSF stands for : Late Submission Fees, IP stands for Issue Price and FV stands for Face Value Sr. Date of Number of IP (FV+ Amount (IP*no Date of Para 9 (1) no/ allotment shares premium) of shares) reporting (B)/ Reg LSF (DD-MM-YY) (in INR) (in INR) (DD-MM-YY) 13.1 (2) delay 1 01-07-13 344436 28.12 96,85,540.32 11-04-16 2Y 8M 10D 2 30-06-14 161902 65.86 1,06,62,865.72 11-01-17 2Y 5M 11D 3 14-11-14 164417 65.86 1,08,28,503.62 10-03-16 1Y 2M 25D 4 14-12-15 377299 39.75 1,49,97,635.25 07-06-16 0Y 4M 23D 5 19-11-16 788856 63.12 4,97,92,590.72 18-05-17 0Y 4M 29D 6 19-11-16 683054 63.12 4,31,14,368.48 18-07-18 1Y 6M 29D 7 06-05-17 20331 63.12 12,83,292.72 18-07-18 1Y 1M 11D 8 07-07-17 181578 63.12 1,14,61,203.36 18-07-18 0Y 11M 10D LSF 01-12-17 507309 63.12 3,20,21,344.08 18-07-18 LSF Paid Paid LSF 31-01-18 51489 63.12 32,49,985.68 18-07-18 LSF Paid Paid LSF 29-03-18 2634069 177.15 46,66,25,323.35 08-06-18 LSF Paid Paid TOTAL 65,37,22,653.00
FED, MRO, CEFA, M/s Shopsense Retail Technologies Private Limited, CA No: MUM 912/2019
The applicant filed form FC-GPRs as indicated above with a delay ranging from 0Y 4M 23D to 2Y 8M 10D. Whereas, in terms of Para 9(1) (B) of FEMA 20, an Indian company issuing shares in accordance with these Regulations has to submit to RBI a report in Form FC-GPR along with documents prescribed therein within 30 days from the date of issue of shares to Non Resident. In case of the allotment/s amounting to Rs. 50,18,96,653 (Rupees Fifty Crore Eighteen Lakh Ninety Six Thousand Six Hundred Fifty Three and Zero Paise Only) indicated in the above table as "LSF Paid", they were also reported with a delay. In terms of Regulation 13.2 of FEMA 20R/2017- RB, the person/ entity responsible for filing the reports stipulated in Regulation 13.1 shall be liable for payment of late submission fee, as may be decided by the Reserve Bank, in consultation with the Central Government, for any delays in reporting. Since the applicant has already deposited the LSF amount, this delay has not been taken into consideration for computing the amount for compounding the contraventions.
5 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 03, 2019. The applicant appeared for personal hearing on September 06, 2019, during which Shri Miket Shashikant Bahuva, Consultant represented the applicant in the cabin of Shri J.K. Pandey, Chief General Manager, Mumbai Regional Office. The representative of the applicant admitted the contraventions for which compounding has been sought. During the hearing it was submitted that delay was inadvertent and unintentional. The representative 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.
6 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 (1) (A) of FEMA 20, due to the delay in reporting of receipt of foreign inward remittance towards subscription towards shares as detailed above. The contravention relates to total amount of Rs.13,40,57,834 (Rupees Thirteen Crore Forty Lakh Fifty Seven Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty Four and Zero Paise Only) and with a delay ranging from minimum 0Y 0M 11D to maximum 1Y 8M 16D approximately. (ii) Para 9 (1) (B) of FEMA 20, due to the delay in submission of Form FC-GPR to the Reserve Bank after issue of shares to persons resident outside India and the contravention relates to total amount of Rs.15,18,26,000 (Rupees Fifteen Crore Eighteen Lakh Twenty Six Thousand and Zero Paise Only) and with a delay ranging from minimum 0Y 4M 23D to maximum 2Y 8M 10D approximately.
FED, MRO, CEFA, M/s Shopsense Retail Technologies Private Limited, CA No: MUM 912/2019
7 It has been declared in the compounding application dated June 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 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. 8 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.4,81,500 (Rupees Four Lakh Eighty One Thousand Five Hundred and Zero Paise Only) will meet the ends of justice.
9 Accordingly, I compound the admitted contravention/s namely, the contravention/s of Para 9 (1) (A) of FEMA 20 and Para 9 (1) (B) of FEMA 20, 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. 4,81,500 (Rupees Four Lakh Eighty One Thousand Five Hundred 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. 10 The above order is passed only in respect of contraventions of Para 9 (1) (A) of FEMA 20 and Para 9 (1) (B) of FEMA 20 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. 11 The application is disposed of accordingly. dated: September 17, 2019 Compounding Authority sd/- (J.K. Pandey) Chief General Manager
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