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2024 (1) TMI 43 - AT - Insolvency and BankruptcyRejection of Resolution Plan - Liquidation ordered - Application under Section 66 of IBC - reliability of Forensic Audit Report, an independent expert agency - ineligibility of the Appellants under Section 29 (A) (g) of the Code - HELD THAT:- It is seen CoC approved the resolution plan and accordingly the application for the liquidation of the Corporate Debtor was withdrawn by the Respondent/Resolution Professional. However, since the CoC at a later stage authorised the Respondent to file the application under section 66 of the Code, therefore the Respondent filed the said application after forming her independent opinion. Therefore, it is incorrect submissions made by Appellant that the Resolution Professional want to send the Corporate Debtor into liquidation. It is the contention of the Appellants that the Statutory Auditor did not find any fraudulent transactions contrary to the Forensic Audit Report submitted by M/s VMRS & Associates, Chartered Accountants and therefore Forensic Audit Report was not correct. In this regard, it is observed that the role of Forensic Audit becomes relevant only when such situation occurs about alleged preferential, undervalued, fraudulent and extortionate type of transaction takes place and on most occasions the process of Forensic Audit is required to be undertaken after the annual financial statement of the Corporate Debtor are duly compiled and audited - the contention of the Appellant cannot be accepted that in absence of pointing out fraudulent transactions by the Statutory Auditors, the alleged fraudulent transactions should not have been taken into consideration by the Respondent or by the Adjudicating Authority. There are no error in the Impugned Order dated 12.11.2021 and there are no merit in the Appeal. Disapproval of Resolution Plan - Liquidation of the Corporate Debtor ordered - ineligible under Section 29 (A) (g) of the Code - HELD THAT:- The Adjudicating Authority has power under Section 33(1) of the Code to reject plan and direct liquidation of Corporate Debtor, if any of the requirement of not fulfilled by Resolution Applicant - In the present case the Appellant/Resolution Applicant was declared ineligible under Section 29A(g) of the Code after determination of fraudulent transactions of Rs. 29,75,73,550/- by him along with related parties/ his family members vide order dated 12.11.2021 in I.A. 102/2021 - It is seen that the Adjudicating Authority has exercised its power in the light of Section 33(1) (a) for Initiation of Liquidation, where the Adjudicating Authority has to consider the maximum period permitted for completion of the CIRP under section 12 i.e., 330 days and in this case, around 1,469 days already been lapsed (25.07.2019 CIRP to 02.08.2023 date of liquidation order). It is evident that once the Resolution Applicant become ineligible under Section 29 (A) (g) of the Code, the Adjudicating Authority is bound to reject the Resolution Plan and consequently order for Liquidation of the Corporate Debtor - Section 29A(c) of the Code is provision which and has been added with clear intention to ensure that people who were at the helm of the affairs of the Corporate Debtor, do not come back in some other guise to get back the management/ control/ ownership of the Corporate Debtor without clearing its outstanding debts - the persons who are not covered under clause 29 A(g), will remain eligible to submit resolution plans under clause (c) of Section 29A, else will become ineligible as in the present Appeal. There are no error in the Impugned Order - appeal dismissed.
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