The audit report alleging ₹3,000 crore scam by Gautam Thapar at CG Power has been junked ⁠— but now the serious fraud office is hot on the trail

• The NCLT on Thursday termed an audit report by Vaish Associates on the firm as "bogus", saying it will only rely on the report conducted independently or by a government agency.
• The shares of CG Power remained depressed on Friday morning after the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) ordered an investigation.
• The stock has lost nearly 20% in the last 3 months and more than three-fourths of its value in the last one year.

In a relief to CG Power's sacked chairman Gautam Thapar, the NCLT on Thursday termed an audit report by Vaish Associates on the firm as "bogus", saying it will only rely on the report conducted independently or by a government agency in the matter. CG Power's board sacked Thapar after Vaish Associates' audit report, which itself is based on as many as 23 disclaimers, claimed that Thapar swindled Rs 3,000 crore from CG Power.

However, the shares of CG Power remained depressed on Friday morning after the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) ordered an investigation. The stock has lost nearly 20% in the last 3 months and more than three-fourths of its value in the last one year.

The Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) said it will not rely on this report, unless done independently or after being ordered by the corporate affairs ministry or government agencies like Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO).

Only the government's investigation will be taken on record, the bench comprising Bhaskara Pantula Mohan and Rajesh Sharma said.

The tribunal kept the matter on alleged financial irregularities at CG Power for further hearing on January 23.

Based on the Vaish's report, the corporate affairs ministry on November 25 sought to reopen the books of the company for the past five years ending March 2019. But, the NCLT had rejected this petition as well on the December 16.

Markets regulator Sebi banned Thapar and entities associated with him for three years, following which he moved the Securities Appellate Tribunal, which has asked the company to provide relevant documents to him.

In November, the SFIO began a probe against CG Power and 15 group entities.

See also:
CG Power imbroglio: Gautam Thapar cites board approvals, rejects fund misuse allegations

Fraud-hit CG Power shareholders vote for raising Rs 5,000 cr debt, appt of Sudhir Mathur as director

CG Power board okays appointment of Pradeep Mathur as addl, non-executive independent director