Govt to deregister 1.2 lakh more shell companies

New Delhi, January 16

The government today said it has decided to strike off the names of 1.20 lakh more companies from the official records for various non-compliances as part of its continuing fight against the black money menace.

Nearly 2.26 lakh companies have already been deregistered and around 3.09 lakh directors associated with these entities have been disqualified.

The latest decision to strike off more 1.20 lakh companies from official records came after a review meeting of the actions taken with respect to deregistered firms last week.

Minister of State for Corporate Affairs PP Chaudhary, who chaired the review meeting, has directed officials to expedite action against the companies that are to be struck off the records.

For various non-compliances, around 1,20,000 more companies have been identified for striking-off, the Corporate Affairs Ministry said.

Till the end of December 2017, over 2.26 lakh companies were deregistered for various non-compliances and being inactive for long. These moves are part of larger efforts to curb illicit fund flows.

According to the release, 1,157 cases had been filed with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for restoration of deregistered companies. “Out of these cases, NCLT had given orders for considering restoration of 180 companies, of which 128 companies have already been restored by the Registrars of Companies (ROCs) concerned after the completion of the requisite compliance formalities,” it said.

With respect to 992 court cases pertaining to disqualification of directors that are pending with various high courts, the ministry said around 190 cases have been disposed of. — PTI