Panel set up to conduct forensic audit of NSEL

It has been empowered to distribute the assets to the duped investors but distribution of funds will require the court’s permission.

On a plea made by investors, the Bombay High Court, on Tuesday, formed a committee headed by a retired high court judge to conduct a forensic audit of the troubled NSEL and liquidate the assets of its defaulting borrowers in the over Rs.5,500 crore payments scam.

The three-member committee, headed by Justice (Retd) V. C. Daga, will also have a solicitor and a chartered accountant, according to Advocate Ameet Naik, who represents NSEL in the case.

The committee will ascertain the liability that is outstanding against the defaulting borrowers of NSEL, conduct a forensic audit, and monetise the assets, the court said in its order.

The committee will determine where the amount has gone, and is empowered to ascertain the assets of company.

It has also been empowered to distribute the assets to the duped investors but distribution of funds will require the court’s permission.

Justice S. C. Gupte of the high court said in his order the panel would have to seek separate directions from the court to access the assets that have been attached by the Economic Offences Wing of Mumbai police and the Income Tax Department in the NSEL fraud. It excluded the sale of assets attached by the Enforcement Directorate.

Justice Gupte set up the committee while hearing a representative suit filed by Modern India Ltd., one of the major investors in the bourse, against NSEL and its promoters.

Before any mutual settlement between NSEL and the borrowers, the committee will give a notice to the Forward Markets Commission (FMC) of such a settlement, and also inform the court about it, the HC order said.

The High Court has also allowed the investors or any aggrieved person to challenge the decision of the committee before it.

The court had recently granted bail to NSEL promoter Jignesh Shah in the case.