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Order in the matter of Osian's-Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited

SEBI
May 28, 2021
Smart Summary (Beta)

Summary of Final Order in the matter of Osians - Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited

Factual and Procedural Background

This matter arises from SEBI's examination of media reports regarding mobilization of funds by Osians through an "art fund" scheme. SEBI determined prima facie that the scheme constituted a Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) under Section 11AA of the SEBI Act and that Osians had operated without registration under the SEBI (Collective Investment Schemes) Regulations, 1999 ("CIS Regulations").

SEBI issued a show cause notice dated June 18, 2007 and subsequently passed an order dated April 15, 2013 directing winding up of the scheme, refund of monies collected but remaining unpaid to investors, payment of profits/income as per offer or interest at 10% p.a., restraint from accessing the capital market, and other consequential actions if compliance failed.

Osians appealed against SEBI's April 15, 2013 order before the Securities Appellate Tribunal ("Hon'ble SAT") in Appeal No. 62 of 2013. By order dated October 13, 2015, the Hon'ble SAT upheld that the scheme operated during 2006–2010 was a CIS but set aside SEBI's refund and interest directions and directed SEBI to decide refund-related issues afresh after affording an opportunity of hearing to Osians and respondent no. 2.

Osians filed Civil Appeal No. 54 of 2016 before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court initially permitted the appellant to raise all contentions before SEBI (order dated January 15, 2016), but SEBI's interlocutory application led the Supreme Court to recall that order on November 17, 2016. The Civil Appeal was ultimately withdrawn by Osians on February 12, 2020; consequently the SAT order dated October 13, 2015 became final.

Pursuant to the SAT directions, SEBI proceeded to decide the refund and interest directions afresh. The matter was placed before the SEBI Whole Time Member on August 05, 2020 for issuing fresh directions in accordance with the SAT order. Personal hearings were granted to Osians and Mr. A. K. Muthuswamy (respondent/complainant) on multiple dates in 2020–2021. Osians filed written submissions including a settlement proposal on April 12, 2021; an auditors' report dated April 09, 2021 was also placed on record.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether Osians should be directed to refund the monies collected under its unregistered collective investment scheme to the remaining investors, and if so, the quantum and timeline of refund.
  2. Whether Osians should be directed to pay interest on the principal amount to investors, and if so, at what rate and for what period.
  3. Whether Osians' settlement proposal (including use of an "actual realized NAV" of 58.26 and proposed asset monetization/timeline) is acceptable for determining the refund obligations.
  4. Ancillary directions necessary to ensure compliance (filing of winding-up and repayment reports, preservation/monetization of assets, and enforcement mechanisms in case of failure).

Arguments of the Parties

Osians' (Noticee) Submissions and Settlement Proposal

  • Submitted a "Final Settlement proposal" in a letter dated April 12, 2021 with detailed financial figures (net amount raised, various NAV calculations, amounts realized and paid to unit-holders, and proposed payouts).
  • Provided the following numerical items in the proposal:
    • Net Amount Raised: Rs. 1,02,40,00,000.
    • Net amount due on realized NAV as on March 31, 2010: Rs. 31,76,95,400 (per audit report).
    • Net amount due on actual realized NAV as on July 10, 2010 (NAV = 58.26): Rs. 59,65,82,400.
    • Net amount due on declared NAV as on July 10, 2009 (NAV = 111.72): Rs. 1,14,40,12,800.
    • Actual payments made to unit-holders: Rs. 71,53,37,168 (per investor payment report).
  • Proposed to ensure that all unit-holders receive at least the actual realized NAV of 58.26 as on July 10, 2010; to distribute Rs. 12,13,80,267 to achieve that baseline; projected a total payout of Rs. 83,67,17,435 (about 82% of capital received).
  • Provided an inventory and receivables schedule estimating realizable value of assets and recoveries (total estimated present value for monetization reported as Rs. 13,06,79,328 in one column and Rs. 17,50,98,299 in another aggregated figure in the submission).
  • Estimated timeframe: minimum 6 months and maximum 8 months to offer art assets to remaining unit-holders; process to be completed by December 1, 2021 (in submissions a later date December 15, 2021 was also referenced).
  • Filed audited accounts and an auditors' report (Pushp K Sahu & Co., dated April 09, 2021) and highlighted limitations reflected in the audit report (valuation estimates, inability to form opinion on recoverability of sundry debtors, limitation on scope due to inability to physically verify inventory during COVID-19).

Complainant / Mr. A. K. Muthuswamy — Submissions

  • Requested that he be provided with Osians' reply in the present proceedings.
  • Urged that refund be directed using NAV of Rs. 117.10 per unit as declared by Osians to the complainant on May 09, 2009.
  • Requested that refund amount be paid in one lump sum.
  • Requested that Osians be directed to deposit the refund amount in an escrow account, given Osian's conduct.
  • Requested interest at 18% per annum on the amount to be refunded.
  • Sought award of costs of Rs. 5 lakh in his favour.
  • Requested action against ABN Amro Bank for alleged misleading / mis-selling of the Osians scheme to him.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Pravin Gandhi vs. SEBI (Civil Appeal No. 19936 of 2017) — Yatra Art Fund matter Supreme Court ordered that principal amounts repayable to investors of art fund schemes be paid back within specified timelines and that interest at 10% p.a. be paid for specified periods; Court declined to remand the refund issue to SEBI in that case and directed repayment within fixed timeframes. The Court applied the principles and timelines reflected in the Yatra judgment as the guiding principle for repayment in the present case, holding that Osians must return outstanding amounts in accordance with the principle underlying the Yatra directions (principal repayment within six months and interest as directed in that judgment).
Ibrahim Ahmed vs. SEBI (Appeal No. 40 of 2009) Principle that certain disputes between parties cannot be gone into by the Board (SEBI), which is a statutory regulator meant to protect investors and regulate the securities market. Referenced to underscore the limited scope of SEBI's role and to explain that SEBI is not to adjudicate private/civil disputes but to regulate the market; used as part of the reasoning on the limits of SEBI's jurisdiction in refund-related matters.
MCS Ltd. vs. SEBI (Appeal No. 107 of 2008) Board's directions about return of data/records and the observation that claims for dues may be pursued before appropriate fora; the Board cannot adjudicate contractual disputes. Used to support the proposition that issues of contractual dues and civil claims are not for SEBI to adjudicate and that affected persons may pursue other remedies before appropriate adjudicatory fora.
Hameed Ullah Lalji alias Tony Ullah vs. SEBI (Appeal No. 123 of 2008) Observes that disputes of a civil nature are to be decided by civil courts and the Board cannot adjudicate such disputes. Invoked to reinforce the limitation that SEBI's remedial directions should not be treated as a substitute for civil remedies and to clarify the scope of SEBI's action in the present refund proceedings.
Waman Nagesh Upaskar vs. India Infoline Ltd. (Order dated October 28, 2020, National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission) Held that a DP account holder whose demat account was unauthorisedly misused was entitled to compensation as a consumer from the depository participant under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. Referred to illustrate that separate fora (here, consumer forum) may provide remedies for certain grievances (e.g., unauthorized use of DP accounts); used as an example that remedies exist outside SEBI where appropriate.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The court set out the limited scope of the present proceedings as mandated by the Hon'ble SAT's order dated October 13, 2015: to decide afresh the directions for refund of monies collected by Osians under its unregistered CIS and to determine the amount of interest to be paid. The SAT had retained the finding that Osians' scheme constituted a CIS but directed SEBI to re-determine refund and interest after providing hearing to Osians and respondent no. 2.

Procedural compliance: SEBI afforded multiple opportunities of personal hearing to Osians and to Mr. A. K. Muthuswamy in 2020–2021; Osians filed written submissions and a settlement proposal (April 12, 2021) and supplied audited accounts and an auditors' report (April 09, 2021) which disclosed material qualifications and limitations (inventory valuation based on management estimate without independent verification; inability to form opinion on recoverability of sundry debtors; limitation on scope due to inability to verify inventory physically).

On the substantive assessment, the court noted that:

  • SEBI's April 15, 2013 order had held Osians to be operating a CIS in contravention of Regulation 3 of the CIS Regulations and Section 12(1B) read with Section 11AA of the SEBI Act; this finding was upheld by the SAT.
  • Osians' attempt to base refund directions on an "actual realized NAV" of 58.26 (as on July 10, 2010) was rejected as untenable because Osians itself had declared a final NAV of Rs. 111.72 per unit on March 23, 2010, and based on that declared final NAV certain payments had already been made and outstanding amounts computed (as noted in the SAT order and SEBI record).
  • The court relied upon the Supreme Court's decision in the Yatra matter (Pravin Gandhi v. SEBI) as a controlling principle for repayment obligations in similar art fund cases where the Supreme Court directed principal repayment within specified timelines and prescribed interest at 10% p.a. for certain periods. The Court considered that principle appropriate to apply in the present case.
  • SEBI quantified the outstanding amount to be refunded by Osians as Rs. 30,86,62,832 (out of the Rs. 1,02,40,00,000 mobilized from 656 investors) based on the record of receipts/payments and declared NAV figures.
  • The court acknowledged arguments by the complainant concerning alternative NAV figures, lump-sum payment, escrow, higher interest, costs, and action against ABN Amro Bank for alleged mis-selling; the court rejected the proposal to pursue action against ABN Amro Bank under PFUTP Regulations (as mis-selling was not covered under the relevant provision at the time the scheme was launched and subsequent amendments cannot be applied retroactively in this regard), while noting the complainant remains free to pursue such claims before other appropriate authorities.
  • The court referenced SAT precedents (Ibrahim Ahmed, MCS Ltd., Hameed Ullah Lalji) to underline the limited remedial domain of SEBI (i.e., SEBI's role is regulatory and not to adjudicate private contractual disputes) and to contextualize the directions given.

On the basis of the above, and in exercise of powers under Sections 11 and 11B read with Section 19 of the SEBI Act and Regulation 65 of the CIS Regulations, the court formulated specific refund, interest, reporting, asset-preservation and enforcement directions (see Holding and Implications below). The decision to require refund and 10% interest follows the Yatra principle and the SAT's mandate to decide refund issues afresh after hearing the parties.

Holding and Implications

Holding: The Whole Time Member of SEBI issued directions requiring Osians to refund outstanding monies and pay interest as follows:

  • OSIAN SHALL REFUND the balance amount to remaining investors.
  • OSIAN SHALL PAY interest at the rate of 10% per annum on the total principal amount collected from each of the remaining investors, from the date when the amount first became due to such investors until the date of closure of its scheme.
  • The refund of the balance amount is to be completed within a period of six months from the date of this order; the interest on the total amount shall be paid within a period of nine months from the date of coming into force of this order.
  • Osians is directed to file winding up and repayment reports, duly certified by an auditor, in the SEBI CIS Regulations format along with trail of funds, bank statements indicating refund, and receipts from investors acknowledging refunds within 15 days after expiry of the six-month and nine-month periods respectively.
  • Osians is restrained from alienating, disposing of, or selling any assets except for the purpose of making refunds to investors as directed.
  • SEBI is empowered to recover the amounts under Section 28A of the SEBI Act if Osians fails to effect refunds or file the required reports within the specified periods.
  • Other directions contained in paragraph 45(b) and (c) of SEBI's order dated April 15, 2013 remain intact and shall be enforced mutatis mutandis subject to the directions given in this order.
  • The direction in relation to asset restriction ceases to operate once Osians complies with the reporting requirement (para 16(b)).

Implementation timing and exceptional circumstances:

  • The order generally comes into force immediately. However, because of COVID-19 related disruptions, the specific direction for refund in paragraph 16(a) was stated to come into force on July 01, 2021.

Consequences and broader implications:

  • The direct effect is that Osians must refund outstanding monies totaling Rs. 30,86,62,832 (as noted in the order) and pay interest at 10% p.a. within the timeframes prescribed. Osians must also file detailed repayment/winding-up reports and preserve assets for refund purposes.
  • The order applies the remedial principle from the Supreme Court's Yatra judgment to the present art fund context; it enforces concrete repayment timelines and interest, rather than remanding the refund question back to SEBI for further inquiry in light of protracted litigation.
  • The order expressly preserves investors' rights to pursue other legal remedies (e.g., contractual claims, deficiency in service) before appropriate fora; it does not preclude additional claims by investors or the complainant for costs or other reliefs before competent forums.
  • No broader legal precedent beyond applying the Yatra principle is stated to be created by this order; the order enforces remedial steps in the factual matrix before SEBI rather than announcing a new legal principle.

Administrative note: A copy of the order was directed to be sent to the noticee, Mr. A. K. Muthuswamy, recognised stock exchanges, relevant banks, depositories and registrar and transfer agents of mutual funds to ensure compliance.

Signed on May 28, 2021 by Ananta Barua, Whole Time Member, Securities and Exchange Board of India, Mumbai.

Show all summary ...

Final Order in the matter of Osians- Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited WTM/AB/IMD/CIS/11999/2021-22 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA ORDER Under Sections 11 and 11B of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 read with Regulation 65 of the SEBI (Collective Investment Schemes) Regulations, 1999 In respect of and in the matter of Osians- Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited.

1. The present proceedings are pursuant to order dated October 13, 2015 passed by the Honble Securities Appellate Tribunal, Mumbai (hereinafter referred to as Honble SAT) in Appeal No. 62 of 2013 filed by Osians- Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited (hereinafter also referred to as Noticee / Osian) against the final order dated April 15, 2013 passed by Securities and Exchange Board of India (hereinafter referred to as SEBI) against Noticee, whereby Honble SAT directed as under:

36. In these circumstances, while upholding the impugned order of SEBI to the extent it holds that the scheme operated by the appellant during the period from 2006 to 2010 constituted CIS, we set aside the directions contained in the impugned order to the extent it directs the appellant to refund the monies collected by it under the said scheme but remaining unpaid to all the investors and also set aside the direction given by SEBI to the appellant to pay profits/income due to the investors or pay interest at the rate of 10% per annum from the date of investment till the date of refund, whichever is higher and direct SEBI to decide those issues afresh after affording an opportunity of hearing to the appellant and the respondent no. 2.

37. Appeal is partly allowed in the aforesaid terms with no order as to costs.

2. Before, dealing with the present proceedings on merits, it would be appropriate to understand the background, in which Appeal No. 62 of 2013, wherein order dated October 13, 2015 was passed by the Honble SAT, was filed by Osian, which is narrated in brief hereunder: Final Order in the matter of Osians- Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited

(i) Upon examining certain media reports and newspaper articles regarding the mobilization of funds from investors under the scheme of 'art fund', it was observed that one Osian had solicited investments in the 'art fund', and thus, SEBI started its examination of the matter.

(ii) On examination of the scheme of Osian, it was prima facie observed that the character of 'art fund' is similar to that of a 'collective investment scheme' (hereinafter referred to as CIS) as defined under Section 11AA of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (hereinafter referred to as SEBI Act). It was found that Osian was carrying out such activities without obtaining a certificate of registration in accordance with the SEBI (Collective Investment Schemes) Regulations, 1999 (hereinafter referred to as CIS Regulations).

(iii) Accordingly, a show cause notice dated June 18, 2007 (hereinafter referred to as SCN) was issued to Osian advising it to show cause as to why it should not register with SEBI as a Collective Investment Management Company and why appropriate directions under Sections 11 and 11B of the SEBI Act should not be issued against it for the alleged violations of the provisions of Section 12(1B) read with Regulation 3 of the CIS Regulations, in case of failure to do so. Subsequently, an Order dated April 15, 2013 was passed against Osian, and the following directions were issued against it: (a) Osians-Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited is directed to wind up its existing 'collective investment scheme' and refund the monies, collected by it under its scheme but remaining unpaid, to all the investors. In addition, it shall also pay the amount of profits/income earned, if any, that is due to the investors as per the terms of its offer or pay interest at the rate of 10% per annum from the date of investment till the date of refund, whichever is higher; (b) Osians-Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited is further directed to comply with directions in clause (a) above within a period of three months from the date of this order Final Order in the matter of Osians- Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited and submit a winding up and repayment report to SEBI in accordance with the CIS regulations failing which the following actions shall follow:

i. SEBI would initiate prosecution proceedings under section 24 and adjudication proceedings under Chapter VI of the SEBI Act, against Osians-Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited and its promoters;

ii. A reference would be made to the State Government/ local police to register a civil/criminal case against Osians-Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited and its promoters, directors and its managers/ persons in charge of the business of its scheme(s) for possible offences of fraud, cheating, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds; and

iii. A reference would be made to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, to initiate the process of winding up of Osians-Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited; (c) Osians-Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited is directed not to access the capital market and is further restrained and prohibited from buying, selling or otherwise dealing in the securities market till its collective investment scheme/s is/are wound up and all the monies mobilized through them are refunded to the investors.

(iv) Aggrieved by the aforesaid order dated April 15, 2013 passed by SEBI, Osian preferred an Appeal No. 62 of 2013 before Honble SAT which was disposed of the Honble SAT vide its order dated October 13, 2015 with the directions as quoted in paragraph 1 above, of this order.

(v) Impugning the order dated October 13, 2015 passed by Honble SAT in Appeal No. 62 of 2013, Osian filed a Civil Appeal No. 54 of 2016 Osian Connoisseurs of Art Pvt. Ltd. Vs, SEBI & Anr. before Honble Supreme Court of India. The said Civil Appeal was disposed of, at notice stage, by the Honble Supreme Court vide its order dated January 15, 2016 directing that the appellant therein is entitled to raise all contentions before SEBI. Thereafter, SEBI filed an Interlocutory Application No. 2 of 2016 (IA) in the aforesaid disposed of Civil Appeal, praying for recall of order dated January 15, 2016 passed by the Honble Supreme Court in Civil Appeal No. 54 of 2016. Honble Supreme Court vide its order dated November 17, 2016 allowed the IA filed by Final Order in the matter of Osians- Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited SEBI, recalled its order dated January 15, 2016 and restored the Civil Appeal No. 54 of 2016 to its original number.

(vi) Thereafter, vide order dated February 12, 2020, Civil Appeal No. 54 of 2016 was allowed to be withdrawn by the Honble Supreme Court as per the prayer made by the Appellant i.e. Osian, therein and therefore, the order dated October 13, 2015 passed by the Honble SAT in the present matter is final.

3. In terms of aforesaid directions of Honble SAT, the limited scope of these proceedings is to decide the direction of refund, of the monies collected by Osian under its unregistered collective investment schemes, to be issued to Osian and the amount of interest to be directed alongwith such refund.

4. In terms of order dated October 13, 2015 passed by Honble SAT and order dated February 12, 2020 of the Honble Supreme Court, the matter was placed before me on August 05, 2020, for passing fresh order in terms of refunding the monies collected by Osian to all the investors, after affording an opportunity of hearing to Osian and Mr. A. K. Muthuswamy (respondent no. 2 in Appeal no. 62 of 2013 before the Honble SAT).

5. In compliance with the directions of the Honble SAT and principles of natural justice, an opportunity of personal hearing was granted to Osian and Mr. A. K. Muthuswamy on September 28, 2020. However, vide letter dated August 24, 2020, Osian sought adjournment for the hearing scheduled on September 28, 2020. Further, Mr. A. K. Muthuswamy did not respond to the hearing notice. Accordingly, another opportunity of personal hearing was granted to Osian and Mr. A. K. Muthuswamy on December 04, 2020. Then Mr. A. K. Muthuswamy vide letter dated November 27, 2020 filed his submissions on December 01, 2020. On December 04, 2020, the representative of Mr. A. K. Muthuswamy appeared via video conference and made submissions. Mr. Neville Tuli, Chief Advisor of Osian also appeared before me on December 04, 2020 and after making brief submissions, sought for an adjournment. Accordingly, another Final Order in the matter of Osians- Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited opportunity of personal hearing was granted to Osian on January 29, 2021. On January 29, 2021, Osian filed an email seeking adjournment on medical grounds of its Chief Advisor, Mr. Neville Tuli. A final opportunity for personal hearing was granted to Osian on February 25, 2021. On February 25, 2021, its Chief Advisor, Mr. Neville Tuli appeared before me and made submissions. Upon seeking time to file written submissions, Osian was granted time to file its submissions by March 25, 2021. Thereafter, Osian vide email dated April 12, 2021, filed its written submissions.

6. In its letter dated April 12, 2021, Osian has inter alia submitted the following: a. Final Settlement proposal to SEBI from Osian: INR Notes

1 Net Amount Raised 1,02,40,00,000

2 Net Amount due on realized NAV as on March 31, 2010 31,76,95,400 Refer to Audit Report

3 Net Amount due on Actual realized NAV as on July 10, 2010 59,65,82,400 NAV = 58.26

4 Net Amount due on declared NAV as on July 10, 2009 1,14,40,12,800 NAV = 111.72

5 Actual payments made to Unit holders 71,53,37,168 Refer to Investors payment Report b. The settlement proposal is to try and ensure that all Unit Holders receive at least the actual realized NAV of 58.26 as on July 10, 2010. c. Art Assets expected to be available for monetization for settlement and its estimated present value: Final Order in the matter of Osians- Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited Art Assets expected to be available for monetization for settlement INR Estimated PV of Inventories in lieu of Art Fund Dues

1 Inventories 6,47,26,361 3,23,63,181

2 Sundry Debtors less provision for bad and doubtful debts 8,03,71,938 6,83,16,147

3 Estimated recovery from bad and doubtful debts 3,00,00,000 3,00,00,000 Total 17,50,98,299 13,06,79,328 d. We will require a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 8 months to offer the art assets to the remaining unit-holders who have received less than 58.26 NAV on their investment. e. Additionally once all unit-holders have been approached, all the assets which remain will be sold at whatever price realized and the amount will be pro-data distributed to the unit-holders so that all receive a minimum of 58.26 and the payment of any accepted statutory dues. f. The process will be completed by December 1, 2021. g. Thus in the end a total payout of Rs. 83,67,17,435/- will be made. This represents nearly 82% of Capital received by the Osians Art Fund. h. Regarding the auditors Report, we would like to make the following points:

i. Point 5 Auditors remark on sundry debtors: Although we have made provision for bad and doubtful debts against the debtors, however, we have also been pursuing them and are hopeful that a substantial part of the same may be realized in the time period requested.

ii. Point 6 Auditors remark on Debtors & Advances: With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is very difficult to reach out to each one of the unit-holders to obtain their direct new confirmations, which would have otherwise not been an issue in the normal circumstances. Final Order in the matter of Osians- Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited

iii. Point 7 Auditors remark on physical verification of inventory: With limited manpower, limited access to resources, data and documents during COVID-19 for more than a year now, we have not been able to consult, coordinate and connect with our warehouses efficiently which were located in a pandemic red zone since March 2020 and as such physical verification (during the last three months) could not be fully carried by the external auditors though it was completed by the internal management teams.

i. Submitted audited accounts of Osians Art Fund along with Audit Report, Notes and Schedules for the period ended 31st March 2021 and the Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2021 as certified by Pushp K Sahu & Co., Chartered Accountants, Mumbai.

7. Upon perusal of the Auditors report dated April 09, 2021 of Pushp K. Sahu & Co., Chartered Accountants, Mumbai (Membership No. 112502) submitted by Osian vide their letter dated April 12, 2021, I note that the report has inter alia stated the following: 4.In the absence of regulated active market, inventory of Rs. 6,47,26,361/- carried in the Balance Sheet at estimated net realizable value in the view of position state in Note I(1) on Schedule 4., has been estimated on the basis of managements expectation thereof. We have placed reliance on such valuation without any verification.

5. We are unable to form an opinion on the recoverability of Sundry Debtors of Rs. 14,65,53,813/- as at 31 March 2021. Provision has been made for Rs. 6,61,81,875/- out of total debt Rs. Rs. 14,65,53,813/-.

6. Debtors and payment to OAF Unitholders are subject to confirmation.

7. There was limitation of scope on the audit to be carried out by us since we could not verify physically the inventory as at 31 March 2021.

8. Considering the overall significance of the matters stated in the paragraphs 5 to 7 above, we are unable to form an opinion as to whether or not the Balance Sheet gives a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Scheme as at 31 March 2021, in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in India. Final Order in the matter of Osians- Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited

8. From the submissions made by Osian to the SCN, the SEBI Order dated April 15, 2013, the Order dated October 13, 2015 passed by the Honble SAT and the material available on record, I note that Osian had circulated an information memorandum inviting subscription/investments in its Scheme Contemporary-1 from investors, with the objective to generate significant medium and long term income and capital growth from portfolio of investment and management in the contemporary fine arts and had issued unit certificates to the investors in this regard. I note that Osian had raised Rs. 1,02,40,00,000/- from 656 investors. I note that with regard to repayment to the investors, it was held in the Order dated October 13, 2015 passed by the Honble SAT, as under:

31. Thereafter, the Art Fund declared the final NAV of Rs. 111.72 (cum-income) per unit on 24.03.2010. Based on the said NAV of Rs. 111.72 (cum-income) per unit, the total amount payable to the investors comes to Rs. 114,40,12,800/-. It is the case of the appellant that on sale of art works the amount received is Rs. 53,26,00,000/-, whereas the Art Fund has paid Rs. 70,76,91,971/- to the investors as of 30.06.2013 and the outstanding amount as of 30.06.2013 is Rs. 43,63,20,829/-. It is the case of the appellant that 16.72% of the total investors have been paid entire amount payable as per the final NAV, 36% of the total investors have been repaid more than 50% of the total amount payable and the balance 47% of the total investors have been repaid less than 50% of the total amount payable.

9. From the above, I note that it was submitted before the Honble SAT that the Art Fund has paid Rs. 70,76,91,971/- to the investors as of June 30, 2013 and the outstanding amount as of June 30, 2013 is Rs. 43,63,20,829/-, as per the declared final NAV of Rs. 111.72. I note that Osian has now vide its letter dated April 12, 2021, stated that the actual payments made to the unit holders till date is Rs. 71,53,37,168/- and that the actual realized NAV as on July 10, 2010 is Rs. 58.26. Further, Osian vide its letter dated April 12, 2021 has made a settlement proposal to try and ensure that all Unit Holders receive at least the actual realized NAV of 58.26 as on July 10, 2010, for which an amount of Rs. 12,13,80,267/- shall be distributed to the unit holders. Osian has submitted that the process will be completed latest by December 15, 2021 and in Final Order in the matter of Osians- Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited the end a total payout of Rs. 83,67,17,435/- will be made, which represents nearly 82% of the capital received by the Osians Art Fund.

10. I note that vide SEBI Order dated April 15, 2013, Osian has been held to be operating a collective investment scheme without obtaining certificate under the CIS Regulations, in contravention of Regulation 3 of the CIS Regulations and Section 12(1B) read with Section 11AA of the SEBI Act. The same has been upheld by the Honble SAT in its Order dated October 13, 2015. With regard to the aforesaid settlement proposal, I find that Osians submission that the actual realized NAV as on July 10, 2010 is Rs. 58.26, and they will try and ensure that all Unit Holders receive at least the actual realized NAV of 58.26 as on July 10, 2010, for which an amount of Rs. 12,13,80,267/- shall be distributed to the unit holders, is untenable, as the final NAV of Rs. 111.72 was declared by Osian on March 23, 2010 on the basis of which Osian has paid Rs. 70,76,91,971/- to some of the investors as of June 30, 2013 and the outstanding amount as of June 30, 2013 is Rs. 43,63,20,829/-. The NAV calculated by the Noticee and basing the directions of refund on the basis of such NAV may not be appropriate now when the scheme of the Noticee have been found to be in violation of the provisions of SEBI Act and CIS Regulations in the order dated April 15, 2013 passed by SEBI.

11. I find that Osian has raised Rs. 1,02,40,00,000/- from 656 investors in contravention of the Securities Laws and an amount of Rs. 30,86,62,832/- is yet to be refunded to investors. I note that in Civil Appeal No. 19936 of 2017 - Pravin Gandhi Vs. SEBI relating to schemes of Yatra Art Fund Pvt. Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Yatra matter), Honble Supreme Court dealt with a case of Art Fund wherein SEBI vide its order dated November 06, 2015 had directed Yatra Art Fund to refund the entire monies collected by it under its scheme to all the investors along with the returns at the rate of 10% per annum and an appeal against the said SEBI order was disposed of by the Honble SAT in terms of order passed by it in the Osian matter (Supra). In its judgment and order dated February 12, 2020, passed in Yatra matter, Honble Supreme Court held as under: Final Order in the matter of Osians- Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited .. However, we find that this litigation has been going on for an extremely long period of time and instead of remanding the matter to SEBI to decide the refund issue afresh, we order as follows: The principal amount repayable to each investor of both the Schemes shall be paid back within a period of six months from today in the following manner: We are informed that so far as the first Fund is concerned, 81.32 per cent of the total principal sum of Rs.10.95 crores has been repaid. Insofar as Fund No. 2 is concerned, we have been informed that 50 per cent of the principal amount of Rs.21.92 crores has been repaid. The balance owing to the 50 investors of Fund No. 1 and to the 132 investors of Fund No. 2 be therefore, repaid within six months from the date of this judgment. So far as the interest at the rate of 10 per cent is concerned, this amount will be paid on the principal outstanding amount from the date on which it becomes due to each such member, till the date on which each Fund came to an end, i.e., insofar as Fund No. 1 is concerned till 15.09.2011 and so far as Fund No. 2 is concerned till 31.01.2012. The aforesaid interest shall be paid within nine months from the date of this judgment. Once the amounts are actually paid within the time period specified, compliance report be filed with SEBI in this behalf..

12. As out of the total amount of Rs. 1,02,40,00,000/- collected by Osian from 656 investors, an amount of Rs. 30,86,62,832/- is yet to be refunded to investors. Thus, Osian must return the amounts, in accordance with principle underlying the aforesaid directions issued by the Honble Supreme Court in Yatra matter (Supra).

13. Further, with regard to the complainant, Mr. A. K. Muthuswamy, I note that the Honble SAT in its Order dated October 13, 2015, had inter alia directed SEBI to decide the refund issues afresh after affording an opportunity of hearing to the appellant and to respondent no. 2, i.e. Mr. A. K. Muthuswamy. In this regard, as mentioned in para 5 Final Order in the matter of Osians- Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited above, an opportunity of personal hearing was granted to Mr. A. K. Muthuswamy on December 04, 2020, wherein, the representative of Mr. A. K. Muthuswamy appeared via video conference and made submissions. Further, Mr. A. K. Muthuswamy had filed his submissions vide letter dated November 27, 2020. Brief submissions of the complainant, made in his reply dated November 27, 2020, written submissions dated December 04, 2020 and during the personal hearing before me, are as under:

(i) He should be provided with the reply of the Osian filed in the present proceedings;

(ii) Osian be directed to refund the amount by taking NAV of Rs. 117.10/- per unit as declared by Osian to the complainant on May 09, 2009;

(iii) Osian be directed to pay the all amount to be refunded, in one go;

(iv) Having regard to the conduct of the Osian, Osian be directed to deposit the amount to be directed to be refunded, in an escrow account;

(v) Osian be directed to pay the interest at the rate of 18% per annum on the amount to be refunded;

(vi) Complained be awarded cost of Rs. 5 Lakh;

(vii) Appropriate action be taken against ABN Amro Bank for misleading and mis- selling the Osians scheme to the complainant;

14. The present proceedings have emanated subsequent to disposal/withdrawal of Civil Appeal No. 54 of 2016 filed before Honble Supreme Court, as referred in paras 2(v) &

(vi) above. The scope of present proceedings is to decide direction of refund to be issued to Osian. Accordingly, Osian vide letter dated April 12, 2021 has submitted refund proposal, as mentioned in para 6 above. I note that present proceedings resulted from issue of show cause notice to the Noticee for operating collective investment scheme without obtaining registration from SEBI and the Noticee was held to be operating unregistered CIS and accordingly direction for making refund to investors were issued. In such show cause proceedings, the concerned Noticee, to whom show cause notice is issued, only is entitled for hearing. The complainant was earlier heard in these proceedings, in compliance with the order dated November 12, 2012 passed by the Honble SAT in the appeal filed by the complainant and even now, Final Order in the matter of Osians- Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited the complainant has been heard in compliance with the order dated October 13, 2015 passed by Honble SAT in the appeal filed by the Noticee against the SEBI order dated April 15, 2013. The limited scope of these proceedings is to decide the directions for refund to be issued to the Noticee, as directed by the Honble SAT in its order dated October 13, 2015. In this regard, reference may also be made to the orders passed Honble SAT, relevant extracts whereof have been reproduced, hereunder: a. Ibrahim Ahmed vs. SEBI (Appeal No. 40 of 2009) .This dispute between the parties cannot be gone into by the Board which is a statutory regulator meant to protect the interest of the investors and to regulate the securities market... b. MCS Ltd vs. SEBI (Appeal No. 107 of 2008) - ..The Board rightly directed the appellant to return all the data/records and the same has been complied with by the appellant. As regards the dues which the appellant is claiming, it would be open to it to resort to proceedings before an appropriate forum for recovering the same. The Board cannot take upon itself to adjudicate such contractual issues c. Hameed Ullah Lalji alias Tony Ullah vs. SEBI (Appeal No. 123 of 2008) -These disputes are obviously of a civil nature and can appropriately be decided by a Civil Court. The Board cannot adjudicate such disputes. It can only regulate the market. Further, National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission while dealing with a case of unauthorized use of DP account, in its order dated October28, 2020 passed in the matter of Waman Nagesh Upaskar Vs. India Infoline Ltd. held that the DP account holder whose demat account was unauthorisedly misused, was entitled for compensation, as a consumer, from India Infoline, DP, under Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

15. As already discussed above, out of the total amount of Rs. 1,02,40,00,000/- collected by Osian from the 656 investors, an amount of Rs. 30,86,62,832/- is yet to be refunded to investors by the Noticee. Thus, Osian must return the amounts, in accordance with principle underlying the directions issued by the Honble Supreme Court in Yatra matter (Supra) which was a case pertaining to the Art Fund similar to Final Order in the matter of Osians- Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited the present matter. The complainant being one of the investor of Osian shall be equally entitled to such refund alongwith other investors which is being directed in the present order. I further note that the direction of refund which are being issued in this order, does not preclude the complainant to raise his additional claim or costs, against the Noticee, as per the terms and condition of investment, negotiated by the complainant with Osian or its agents, or deficiency in service before any appropriate forum of competent jurisdiction. The complainant has further contented that ABN Amro Bank who was acting as an agent of Osian missold the scheme of Osian to him. In this regard, Noticee has prayed that action be initiated against the ABN Amro Bank for misleading and mis-selling the Osian scheme to the complainant. In this regard, I note that the scheme of Osian was launched in June, 2006 through confidential information memorandum, from about 656 investors and came to an end in January, 2010. At that time, such alleged mis-selling was not covered under the Regulation 4(2) of SEBI (PFUTP) Regulations, 2003 (hereinafter referred to as PFUTP Regulations, 2003). Subsequently, PFUTP Regulations, 2003 were amended on December 11, 2012 to insert Regulation 4(2)(s) which provided that miss-selling of units of mutual fund scheme, shall be deemed to be a fraudulent or an unfair trade practice. In this regard, PFUTP Regulations, 2003 were again amended on February 01, 2019 whereby Regulation 4(2)(s) was substituted to provide that any mis-selling of securities or services relating to securities market shall be deemed to be a fraudulent or an unfair trade practice. Therefore, no such action as prayed by the complainant for the alleged violation of provisions of PFUTP Regulations, can be initiated against ABN Amro Bank. However, the complainant is at liberty to raise this issue before appropriate regulatory authority for such mis-selling.

16. In view of the foregoing, I, in exercise of the powers conferred upon me under Sections 11 and 11B read with Section 19 of the SEBI Act, 1992 and Regulation 65 of CIS Regulations, hereby issue the following directions: a. Osian shall refund the balance amount to remaining investors. Osian shall also pay on the total principal amount collected from each of the remaining Final Order in the matter of Osians- Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited investors, an interest at the rate of 10% per annum, from the date when amount to such investors first became due and till the date of closure of its scheme. The aforesaid balance amount shall be refunded within a period of Six months from the date of this order and the aforesaid interest on total amount shall be paid within a period of Nine months from the date of coming into force of this order. b. Osian shall file winding up and repayment reports, duly certified by an auditor, to SEBI in the format provided under SEBI (Collective Investment Schemes) Regulations, 1999, along with the trail of funds claimed to be so refunded, bank account statements indicating refund to the investors and receipt from the investors acknowledging such refunds, within a period of 15 days after the expiry of aforesaid Six months and Nine months period, respectively, as referred in para 16(a) above. These reports shall be forwarded by Osian to The Division Chief, EFD, DRA-3, Securities and Exchange Board of India, SEBI Bhawan, Plot NO. C4 A, G Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (East), Mumbai 400051. c. Osian shall not alienate or dispose of or sell any assets except for the purpose of making refund to its investors, as directed above. d. SEBI, on failure of Osian Capital Art Fund, to effect the refunds as directed in the para 16(a) or to file reports as directed in para 16(b), above, within the period provided thereunder, shall recover such amounts, in accordance with Section 28A of the SEBI Act, 1992. e. Other directions, as contained in paragraph 45(b) and (c) of the SEBI order dated April 15, 2013 passed against the Noticees shall remain intact and be mutatis mutandis enforced against the Noticee subject to the directions given above. Final Order in the matter of Osians- Connoisseurs of Art Private Limited f. The direction in para 16(c) above shall cease to operate once Osian has complied with the directions in para 16(b) above.

17. The direction for refund, as given in paragraph 16(a) above, does not preclude the investors, to pursue the other legal remedies available to them under any other law, against the Noticee for refund of money as per the terms of their investment or deficiency in service before any appropriate forum of competent jurisdiction.

18. The order shall come into force with immediate effect. However, in view of the exceptional circumstances emerged due to the outbreak of a COVID-19 and consequential lockdowns imposed in different parts of the country, the direction given in paragraph 16(a) shall come into force on July 01, 2021.

19. A copy of this order shall also be sent to the Noticee, Mr. A. K. Muthuswamy, recognised Stock Exchanges, the relevant banks, Depositories and Registrar and Transfer Agents of Mutual Funds to ensure that the directions given above are strictly complied with. Sd/- Date: May 28, 2021 ANANTA BARUA Place: Mumbai WHOLE TIME MEMBER SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA