Centre deregisters 2,500 Kerala firms
It emerges that 2,500 Kerala-headquartered companies are among those over 1 lakh companies whose registration the Union ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) had been struck off recently. A couple of days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had revealed this nationwide de-registering of firms for serious irregularities including dubious financial transactions post-demonetisation. "Nearly 2,500 companies are already struck off and this figure might go up in the coming days. Though the notice period was 30 days, we had given more time -- the notice was issued in March, a newspaper advertisement was given in May and then, we waited till the first week of June (to take further action)," a source within MCA said. In March this year, MCA had issued notices to nearly 5,479 companies in Kerala asking them to file the statutory documents within 30 days' time and then went on cancelling the registration of those who haven't filed them, under Section 248(1) of the Companies Act 2013. "The following companies ... have not been carrying on any business or operation for a period of two immediately preceding financial years and have not made any application within such period for obtaining the status of dormant company under section 455," the public notice issued on April 5, 2017 by MCA said. The authorities also sent notices to those companies which haven't commenced business within one year of their incorporation. "Striking off the registrations of these companies doesn't mean the directors are free from the liability," said the official, hinting at further action. The remaining 2,500 companies, to which the notice had sent, had responded, but the officials are currently verifying those documents, the source said. MCA wouldn't be looking at the money laundering part, which is the mandate of the Enforcement Directorate, the source said. An analysis of the 5,479 companies, which were sought clarification and documents by the MCA, shows that they are from all sectors and industries -- tourism, textile, steel manufacturing, retailing, chit funds, real estate, IT, plantation, pharma, human resources and hospitality.
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