Corporate Corruption: Legal Shifts and Compliance Essentials in India

The Indian business landscape has had a seismic transformation in various legal aspects during the past ten years. One key factor driving this change is the transformation in identifying and enforcing corporate corruption offenses such as corporate fraud. The emphasis on conducting business with integrity and adhering to ethical principles and compliance has reached unprecedented levels. Establishing a reputation for legal and ethical business practices and dedication to maintaining robust systems and procedures now offers concrete and measurable advantages. These include improved valuations, access to a wider range of external financial resources on more favorable terms, and attracting high-quality talent for business operations and expansion.

These benefits extend beyond measurable gains, as they also encompass intangible but essential elements, such as positive stakeholder perception, fostering trust from customers and government authorities, and creating long-term goodwill for the organization and its leadership. In this era, it has become essential for Indian corporations to not only engage in ethical behavior but also to demonstrate it visibly. This involves establishing preventive measures and policies to protect company interests and effectively addressing and rectifying corporate fraud and other criminal activities.

Understanding Corruption in a Corporate Setting

Corruption and bribery within corporate settings come in diverse forms, encompassing practices like providing cash, gifts, favors, or inflated commissions to individuals, their family members, etc. There are also instances of sham agreements, unauthorized allowances, and discreet political or charitable donations generally executed directly or through intermediaries.

Facilitation payments, often challenging to differentiate from bribes, have acquired various monikers like grease money, kickbacks, or chai pani (in the Indian context). Facilitation payments involve unofficial payments to public officials to expedite routine or necessary actions. At the same time, kickbacks are payments exchanged for business favors or advantages.

In this context, corporations are expected to establish a transparent and thriving business environment, enforcing robust anti-corruption measures and fostering a culture of ethical behavior. Companies must prioritize integrity, accountability, and responsible business practices to ensure sustained growth. By doing so, they can effectively counter the adverse impacts of corruption and actively contribute to the progress and prosperity of the nation.

Corporate Criminal Liability

In India, the central legislation addressing corruption is the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (‘PCA’), which applies to both domestic and foreign companies operating in India, either directly or through subsidiaries or affiliated entities. The country’s Apex Court recognized the principle of corporate criminal liability in Iridium India Telecom Ltd v. Motorola Incorporated & Ors, 2006, and held that mens rea may be attributed to companies on the principle of the ‘alter ego’ of the company (i.e., the state of mind of directors and managers who represent the ‘directing mind and will’ of the company, and control its affairs, would be attributable to the company). However, this was done under the penal legislations of the country. It was only in 2018 that the PCA was amended to capture the concept, thus bringing Indian Anti-Corruption laws up-to-speed with global standards.

PCA explicitly stipulates that in the event of an offense committed by a business entity, the entity will be liable for a monetary penalty, provided that any individual ‘linked with the business entity’ offers an unlawful favor with the intention of gaining or retaining business advantages or facilitating business-related benefits for the entity. An individual is deemed to be connected with a business entity if they offer services on behalf of the entity. Consequently, companies can only rely on the defense that instances of bribery and corruption are isolated transgressions if they can demonstrate the implementation of adequate compliance measures and safeguards to prevent their associates from engaging in such conduct.

*The accused can face imprisonment ranging from 3-7 years and a fine.*

Significance of the Companies Act

The Companies Act of 2013 establishes stringent regulations regarding fraud, encompassing actions of negligence, information concealment, or misuse of authority to deceive, gain an unfair advantage, or cause harm to the company, its stakeholders, creditors, or others. Notably, the offense of corporate fraud does not necessitate the occurrence of wrongful gain or loss. Instances of private bribery and the covering up of such actions (potentially constituting fraud against or by the company) can result in imprisonment ranging from 6 months to 10 years, alongside fines linked to the fraudulent amount or three times its value. However, for fraud falling below a minimum threshold (INR 10 Lac or 1% of the company’s turnover, whichever is lower, and not involving public interest), the penalty includes imprisonment of up to 5 years, a fine of up to INR 50 Lac, or both.

The Act places a legal responsibility on directors to disclose any fraud detected by auditors, except in cases necessitating reporting to the central government. Auditors and company secretaries are mandated to report any suspected fraud to the central government. For listed companies and specific categories of unlisted firms, it is compulsory to establish a vigilance mechanism for reporting concerns and safeguarding whistleblowers. All companies are required to implement a disclosure mechanism for fraud within the auditor’s report. Furthermore, listed companies must disclose incidents of fraud to the stock exchanges in specific circumstances.

The formation of the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (‘SFIO’), as stipulated by the Act, also functions as a potent instrument. The central government can instruct the SFIO to probe a company’s operations in specific situations. The SFIO possesses significant authority to conduct inspections, uncover documents, and perform search and seizure actions, including the power to make arrests during its investigations.

Compliance

Companies have proactively adopted anti-corruption compliance programs to avoid attracting regulatory sanctions. An effective program typically includes:

1. Comprehensive policies outlining rules regarding gifts, meals, and entertainment.

2. Regular compliance training for all staff, especially those in customer-facing roles.

3. Regular due diligence on vendors and counterparts before transactions.

4. Robust financial controls with stringent limitations on cash payments, reimbursements, and payments to parties not directly involved in the contract.

5. A whistleblowing system and a safety mechanism for whistleblowers.

The complexities of corporate corruption underscore the need for organizations to prioritize ethics and anti-bribery measures. Our comprehensive ABAC compliance training, featuring interactive workshops and engaging e-modules which cover real-life scenarios in a dramatized format, can equip your team to navigate such challenges effectively. Stay ahead in an evolving business landscape with our tailored solutions.