In exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (2) of Section 211, sub-section (5) of Section 211, Section 214, sub-section (3) of Section 210, and sub-section (11) of Section 217, read with sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 469 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013) and in supersession of the Companies (Central Government's) General Rules and Forms, 1956 or any other relevant rules prescribed under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) on matters covered under these rules, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, namely
(1) These rules may be called the Companies (Inspection, Investigation and Inquiry) Rules, 2014.
(2) They shall come into force on the 1st day of April, 2014.
(1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,
(a) Act means the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013);
(b) Annexure means the Annexure to these rules;
(c) Fees means the fees as specified in the Companies (Registration offices and fees) Rules, 2014;
(d) Form or e form means a form set forth in Annexure to these rules which shall be used for the matter to which it relates;
(e) Regional Director means the person appointed by the Central Government in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs as a Regional Director;
(f) Section means the section of the Act;
(2) Words and expressions used in these rules but not defined and defined in the Act or in Companies (Specification of definitions details) Rules, 2014 shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Act and said rules.
The Central Government may appoint persons having expertise in the fields of investigations, cyber forensics, financial accounting, management accounting, cost accounting and any other fields as may be necessary for the efficient discharge of Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) functions under the Act.
The terms and conditions of service of Director, experts, and other officers and employees of the Serious Fraud Investigation Office under sub-section (5) of Section 211 shall be as under
(a) the terms and conditions of appointment of Director shall be governed by the deputation rules under the Central Staffing Scheme of Government of India;
(b) the terms and conditions of service of experts from the Central Government or the State Government or Union territory Government, Public Sector undertaking, Autonomous Bodies and such other organizations shall be as per the recruitment rules which may be duly notified by the Central Government under Article 309 of the Constitution of India;
(c) the terms and conditions of service of other officers and employees from the Central Government or the State Government or Union Territory Government, Public Sector Undertaking, Autonomous Bodies and such other organizations shall be as per the recruitment rules which may be duly notified by the Central Government under Article 309 of the Constitution of India;
(d) the Central Government may appoint experts or consultants or other professionals or professional firms on contractual basis as per the Scheme of engagement of experts or consultants which may be duly approved by the Central Government.
(1) The Central Government may before appointing an inspector under sub-section (3) of Section 210, require the applicant to give a security not exceeding twenty-five thousand rupees for payment of the costs and expenses of investigation as per the criteria give below
| Sl. No. |
Turnover as per previous year balance sheet (Rs) |
Amount of security (Rs) |
| 1. |
Turnover up to Rs 50 crore |
Rs 10,000 |
| 2. |
Turnover more than Rs 50 crore and up to 200 crore |
Rs 15,000 |
| 3. |
Turnover more than Rs 200 crore |
Rs 25,000 |
(2) The security shall be refunded to the applicant if the investigation results in prosecution.
The letter of request shall be transmitted in such manner as specified by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
1. Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Noti. No. G.S.R. 247(E), dated March 31, 2014, published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 3(i), dated 1st April, 2014, pp. 3-4, No. 179.