SERIOUS FRAUD INVESTIGATION OFFICE

• The Serious Frauds Investigation Office (SFIO) has arrested the alleged mastermind of a widespread racket involving the setting up of shell companieswith Chinese links and supply of dummy directors.
• SFIO was assigned by the government to investigate Jillian Consultants India Pvt Ltd and 32 other companies.

Shell Companies

• A shell company is a firm that does not conduct any operations in the economy, but it is formally registered, incorporated, or legally organized in the economy.
• These are sometimes used illegitimately, such as to disguise business ownership from law enforcement or the public.

SFIO

• SFIO is a multi-disciplinary organization under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, consisting of experts in the field of accountancy, forensic auditing, law, information technology, investigation, company law, capital market and taxation for detecting and prosecuting or recommending for prosecution white-collar crimes/frauds.
• It has its head office in New Delhi.
• The Computer Forensic and Data Mining Laboratory (CFDML) was set up in 2013 to provide support and service to the officers of SFIO in their investigations.
• SFIO is headed by a Director as Head of Department in the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India.
• Serious Fraud investigation (SFIO) was initially set up by the Government of India by way of a resolution dated 2nd July, 2003. At that time SFIO did not enjoy a formal legal status.

Function and Roles:

• Section 211 of the Companies Act, 2013, has accorded statutory status to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO).
• SFIO also has powers to arrest people for the violation of the Company law.
• An investigation into the affairs of a company can be initiated by the Central Government and entrusted to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office under the following circumstances:
• On receipt of a report of the Registrar or inspector under section 208 (Report on Inspection made) of the Companies Act, 2013.
• On intimation of a special resolution passed by a company that its affairs are required to be investigated.
• In public interest.
• On request from any Department of the Central Government or a State Government.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT