Section 32A:
Liability for prior offences, etc.
1[32A. Liability for prior offences, etc.--(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Code or any other law for the time being in force, the liability of a corporate debtor for an offence
committed prior to the commencement of the corporate insolvency resolution process shall cease, and the
corporate debtor shall not be prosecuted for such an offence from the date the resolution plan has been
approved by the Adjudicating Authority under section 31, if the resolution plan results in the change in
the management or control of the corporate debtor to a person who was not--
(a) a promoter or in the management or control of the corporate debtor or a related party of such a
person; or
(b) a person with regard to whom the relevant investigating authority has, on the basis of material
in its possession, reason to believe that he had abetted or conspired for the commission of the offence,
and has submitted or filed a report or a complaint to the relevant statutory authority or Court:
Provided that if a prosecution had been instituted during the corporate insolvency resolution
process against such corporate debtor, it shall stand discharged from the date of approval of the
resolution plan subject to requirements of this sub-section having been fulfilled:
Provided further that every person who was a designated partner as defined in clause (j) of
section 2 of the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 (6 of 2009), or an officer who is in default,
as defined in clause (60) of section 2 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013), or was in any manner
incharge of, or responsible to the corporate debtor for the conduct of its business or associated with
the corporate debtor in any manner and who was directly or indirectly involved in the commission of
such offence as per the report submitted or complaint filed by the investigating authority, shall
continue to be liable to be prosecuted and punished for such an offence committed by the corporate
debtor notwithstanding that the corporate debtor's liability has ceased under this sub-section.
(2) No action shall be taken against the property of the corporate debtor in relation to an offence
committed prior to the commencement of the corporate insolvency resolution process of the corporate
debtor, where such property is covered under a resolution plan approved by the Adjudicating Authority
under section 31, which results in the change in control of the corporate debtor to a person, or sale of
liquidation assets under the provisions of Chapter III of Part II of this Code to a person, who was not--
(i) a promoter or in the management or control of the corporate debtor or a related party of such a
person; or
(ii) a person with regard to whom the relevant investigating authority has, on the basis of material
in its possession reason to believe that he had abetted or conspired for the commission of the offence,
and has submitted or filed a report or a complaint to the relevant statutory authority or Court.
Explanation.--For the purposes of this sub-section, it is hereby clarified that,--
(i) an action against the property of the corporate debtor in relation to an offence shall include
the attachment, seizure, retention or confiscation of such property under such law as may be
applicable to the corporate debtor;
(ii) nothing in this sub-section shall be construed to bar an action against the property of any
person, other than the corporate debtor or a person who has acquired such property through
corporate insolvency resolution process or liquidation process under this Code and fulfils the
requirements specified in this section, against whom such an action may be taken under such law
as may be applicable.
(3) Subject to the provisions contained in sub-sections (1) and (2), and notwithstanding the immunity
given in this section, the corporate debtor and any person who may be required to provide assistance
under such law as may be applicable to such corporate debtor or person, shall extend all assistance and
co-operation to any authority investigating an offence committed prior to the commencement of the
corporate insolvency resolution process.]
Notes:
1. Ins. by Act 1 of 2020, s. 10 (w.e.f. 28-12-2019).