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February 2017

From Published Accounts

By Himanshu V. Kishnadwala
Chartered Accountant
Reading Time 10 mins

Section B:

–  Report under CARO, 2016  

  Adverse Report on Internal
Financial Controls (IFC)

in a case where main
report u/s. 143 of the Companies Act, 2013 is a ‘disclaimer’ report

Ricoh India Ltd (31-3-2016) (report dated 18 November 2016)

Compilers’ Note: The main
report u/s. 143 has been reproduced in January 2017 issue of BCAJ.
 

From Report on CARO

(Only clauses with adverse
reporting are reproduced)
 

The Annexure A referred to in Independent Auditor’s Report to
the members of Ricoh India Limited on the financial statements for the year
ended 31st March 2016, we report that:

(i)     (a)   As
described in the basis of disclaimer of opinion para 4.B.5 of main report, the
fixed assets records of the Company have been updated as at 31st
March 2016 based on partial physical verification. Therefore, the Company has
maintained proper records showing full particulars, including quantitative
details and situation of fixed assets in respect of assets physically verified.
However, fixed asset records are not updated for adjustments, if any, in
respect of assets not physically verified.

        (b)  During
the current year, the Company has performed physical verification of certain
fixed assets. In our opinion, the Company needs to strengthen its process for
conducting physical verification of fixed assets at reasonable intervals. As
explained and represented to us, the Company is considering ongoing fixed asset
verification processes on a sample basis. As described in the basis of
disclaimer of opinion para 4.B.5 of main report, the shortages have been
written-off and the excesses have been recorded as zero value. Since all the
fixed assets were not covered by the exercise and the shortages and excesses
were not mutually reconciled, we are unable to comment as to whether the
material discrepancies noted on such verification have been properly dealt with
and on the reasonableness of such verification.

        (c)   Photocopies
of title deeds of immovable properties have been examined by us (other than
five properties – having a net book value of Rs.14 lakh as at 31st
March 2016 for which even the photocopies have not been made available).
Accordingly, we are unable to comment as to whether the immovable properties
are held in the name of the Company or not.

(ii)    Not reproduced

(iii)   Except for the effects of the matters
described in the basis of disclaimer of opinion para 4A main report, according
to the information and explanations given to us, the Company has not granted
any loans, secured or unsecured to companies, firms, limited liability
partnerships or other parties covered in the register maintained u/s. 189 of
the Act.

(iv)   Except for the effects of the matters
described in the basis of disclaimer of opinion para 4A main report, according
to the information and explanation given to us, the Company has not given any
loans, or made any investments, or provided any guarantee, or security as
specified u/s. 185 and 186 of the Companies Act, 2013.

(v)    Except for the effects of the matters
described in the basis of disclaimer of opinion para 4A of main report, as per
the information and explanation given to us, the Company has not accepted any
deposits as mentioned in the directives issued by the Reserve Bank of India and
the provisions of section 73 to 76 or any other relevant provisions of the
Companies Act, 2013 and the rules framed there under.

(vi)   Not reproduced.

(vii)   (a)   According
to the information and explanations given to us; on the basis of our
examination of the records of the Company; and appearing in the books of the
accounts as statutory dues paid/payable, except for the effects of the matters
described in the basis of disclaimer of opinion paragraph of main report,
amounts deducted/accrued in the books of account in respect of undisputed
statutory dues including provident fund, employees’ state insurance,
income-tax, sales tax, service tax, duty of customs, value added tax, cess and
other material statutory dues have not generally been regularly deposited with
the appropriate authorities though the delays in deposit have not been serious.
As explained to us, the Company did not have any dues on account of duty of
excise.

              According to the information and
explanations given to us; on the basis of our examination of the records of the
Company; and appearing in the books of the accounts as statutory dues
paid/payable, except for the effects of the matters described in the basis of
disclaimer of opinion paragraph of main report, no amounts payable in respect
of undisputed statutory dues including provident fund, employees’ state
insurance, income-tax, sales tax, service tax, duty of customs, value added
tax, cess and other material statutory dues were in arrears as at 31st March
2016 for a period of more than six months from the date they became payable.

        (b)  Except
for the effects of the matters described in the basis of disclaimer of opinion
paragraph of main report, in particular para 7(g)(i) and according to the
information and explanations given to us, there are no dues of income tax,
sales tax, service tax and value added tax which have not been deposited with
the appropriate authorities on account of any dispute except as mentioned
below. As explained to us, the Company did not have any dues on account of duty
of excise.

(viii)  Not reproduced

(ix)    Not reproduced

(x)    Attention is invited to note 4A in main
audit report wherein it is stated that we have a reason to believe that
suspected offence involving a violation of applicable law, which may tantamount
to fraud, may have been committed. However, due to the limitations pertaining
to investigations elaborated in note 45 of the financial statements read with
our comments mentioned in para 4.B to 7 of main report, we are unable to
comment on the appropriateness of amounts pertaining to each period over which
such transactions continued, the persons involved and the amount of
fraud/misappropriation. According to the information and explanations given to
us, no other material fraud by the Company or on the Company by its officers or
employees has been noticed or reported during the course of our audit.

(xi)   according to the information and explanations
give to us and based on our examination of the records of the Company, the
Company has paid/provided for managerial remuneration in accordance with the
requisite approvals mandated by the provisions of section 197 read with
Schedule V to the Act. However, this is subject to the potential financial
impact of findings of investigations which has not been considered for
computing the overall limits for payment of managerial remuneration.

(xii)  Not reproduced

(xiii)  Except for the effects of the matters
described in the basis of the disclaimer of opinion paragraph of the main
report, particularly the impact, if any, of the irregularities and suspected
fraudulent transactions which at present is not fully ascertainable, in our
opinion and according to the information available as at present and
explanations given to us and on the basis of our examination of the records of
the Company, the transactions with the related parties are in compliance with
sections 177 and 188 of the Companies Act, 2013 where applicable and the
details have been disclosed in the financial statements as required by the
accounting standards.

(xiv) Not reproduced

(xv)  Except for the effects of the matters described
in the basis of the disclaimer of opinion paragraph of the main report,
particularly the impact, if any, of the irregularities and suspected fraudulent
transactions which at present is not fully ascertainable, according to the
information available as at present and explanations given to us and based on
our examination of the records of the Company, the Company has not entered into
non-cash transactions with directors or persons connected with him.

(xvi) Not reproduced

From Report on IFC

Report on the Internal
Financial Controls under Clause (i) of sub-section 3 of section 143 of the Act

We were engaged to audit the internal financial controls over
financial reporting of the Company as of 31st March 2016 in
conjunction with our audit of the financial statements of the Company for the
year ended on that date.

Management’s
Responsibility for Internal Financial
Controls

Not reproduced

Auditor’s Responsibility

Not reproduced

Meaning of Internal
Financial Controls Over Financial Reporting

Not reproduced

Inherent Limitations of
Internal Financial Controls Over
Financial Reporting

Not reproduced

Adverse Opinion

As described in para 4 of our main report, a large number of
irregularities and suspected fraudulent transactions were noted during the
year. As described in detail in the aforesaid para these irregularities and
suspected fraudulent transactions clearly illustrate that the Company has not
established adequate internal financial controls and that whatever financial
controls have been established were not operating effectively. While reference
may be made to the aforesaid paragraph, the following significant aspects of
material weaknesses in internal control system are particularly noteworthy as
identified in the investigation reports and by our audit procedures:

a)   Deficiencies in maintenance of books of
accounts and documentation including non-availability of original documents,
recording of unsupported and back dated transactions, out of book adjustment
entries etc.

b)   Recording of circular sale and purchase
transactions considered fictitious by the management, non-maintenance of
appropriate inventory records including quantitative reconciliation of goods
purchased and sold and physical verification of inventory at regular interval.

c)   Non-maintenance of complete records and
documentation for machines given to lease at transaction level and fixed asset
records.

d) Absence of an appropriate internal control
system to perform periodical reconciliations of advances/balances of customer
and vendors.

A ‘material weakness’ is a deficiency, or a combination of
deficiencies, in internal financial control over financial reporting, such that
there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s
annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a
timely basis.

In our opinion, because of the matters described in the basis
of disclaimer of opinion paragraph of main report and in view of the material
weaknesses described above, the Company has not maintained adequate and
effective internal financial controls over financial reporting as of 31st
March 2016.

We have considered the material weaknesses
identified and reported above in determining the nature, timing, and extent of
audit tests applied in our audit of the 31st March 2016 standalone
financial statements of the Company and theses material weaknesses have inter-alia
affected our opinion on the financial statements of the Standalone company and
we have issued a disclaimer of opinion on the financial statements.

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