Lok Sabha Question No. 613 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-24
Subject: Indo-Asian News Channel Private Limited
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: Kumbakudi Sudhakaran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## ANSWERED ON MONDAY, JULY 24, 2023/Sravana 2, 1945(Saka)

## UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 613 INDO-ASIAN NEWS CHANNEL PRIVATE LIMITED

## QUESTION

613. SHRI KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN: Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received a request on 22/06/2023, seeking  inquiry  into  the  transfer  of  shares  of  INDO-  Asian  News Channel Private Limited (CIN: U92130KL201OPTC026426, Reg. No. 26426) under ROC, Ernakulam, and to suspend the proceedings;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  company  owes outstanding dues to its employees in the form of salary, provident funds, etc., if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the action taken or likely to be taken by the Government in this regard;
- (e) whether this company has transferred its telecasting license to any  other  entity  following  due  process  of  law,  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (f) whether the Government is aware that the ownership transfer has been conducted between individuals facing criminal charges, including  Muttil  Maram  Muri  case  under  investigation  of  various agencies including ED, if so, the action that has been taken by the Government?

## ANSWER

Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation; Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the  Ministry  of  Planning  and  Minister  of  State  in  the  Ministry  of Corporate Affairs.

(Rao Inderjit Singh)

(a): Yes Sir, a reference dated 22.06.2023 in this regard was received from Shri Kumbakudi Sudhkaran, Hon'ble M.P .

(b):  On  receipt  of  the  said  reference,  Regional  Director  (Southern Region) / Registrar of Companies, Kerala were instructed to examine the matter and furnish action taken report urgently. The Registrar of Companies, Kerala vide his interim report dated 18.07.2023 sent to Regional Director (Southern Region) has stated that he has asked the company  to  submit  all  the  connected  document  relating  to  share transfer for examination. Response of the company is awaited.

(c) and (d): No complaints have been received by the MCA about any outstanding  dues  of  the  company  to  its  employees  in  the  form  of salary, provident funds, etc.

However,  Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment  has  informed  the following:

| Type of inquiry under relevant provision of the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions (EPF & MP) Act, 1952   |   Amount assessed (in lakhs) |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|
| 7A                                                                                                                           |                        66.4  |
| 14B                                                                                                                          |                        54.37 |
| 7Q                                                                                                                           |                        16.73 |
| Total                                                                                                                        |                       137.5  |

Recovery actions to recover the arrear demand as provided in Section 8(B) to 8(G)  of  Employees  Provident  Fund  and  Miscellaneous Provisions (EPF & MP) Act, 1952 has already been initiated against the  establishment  and  the  employer  to  recover  the  outstanding amount which includes issue of CP-1 Demand Notice to the defaulter, CP-3 Prohibitory Order to the Bank and CP-25 Notice to show cause why  a  warrant  of  arrest  should  not  be  issued  to  the  Managing Director, Shri N.V. Nikesh Kumar.

(e): The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has informed that no application  regarding  transfer  of  permission  to  telecast  has  been received by them from the company in respect of their news channel namely 'Reporter'.

(f): On query from Registrar of Companies, Kerala, the company vide reply email dated 18.7.2023 has stated that the ownership transfer in the  matter  of  majority  shareholding  is  completed  and  necessary procedural  formalities  are  compiled  as  per  due  process  under Companies Act, 2013. Registrar of Companies, Kerala vide mail dated 18.7.2023 called the company to submit all the connected documents relating  to  the  share  transfer  for  the  perusal  and  examination  by Registrar of Companies, Kerala and the response of the company is awaited. Further, Directorate of Enforcement has informed that though they have not received any complaint in the matter of shares but they are investigating a case of money laundering against the company under the provisions of the Prevention of Money laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) recorded on the basis of Kerala Police FIR No 121/2021 for illegal  cutting  and  selling  of  Rosewood  worth  Rs.  8  Crore  near Wayanad, Kerala. This case is also referred to locally as Muttil Tree Cutting Case or Muttil Maram Muri Case. Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has informed that the company  vide their online applications dated 25.04.2023 and 28.04.2023 has intimated to the Ministry regarding change in their Share  Holding  Pattern  and  Board  of  Directors  and  the  same  was forwarded to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

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