Companies Act, 2013 · Chapter I: Public Offer
Section 38: Punishment for personation for acquisition, etc., of securities
(1) Any person who—
(a) makes or abets making of an application in a fictitious name to a company for acquiring, or subscribing for, its securities; or
(b) makes or abets making of multiple applications to a company in different names or in different combinations of his name or surname for acquiring or subscribing for its securities; or
(c) otherwise induces directly or indirectly a company to allot, or register any transfer of, securities to him, or to any other person in a fictitious name,
shall be liable for action under section 447.
(2) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall be prominently reproduced in every prospectus issued by acompany and in every form of application for securities.
(3) Where a person has been convicted under this section, the Court may also order disgorgement of gain, if any, made by, and seizure and disposal of the securities in possession of, such person.
(4) The amount received through disgorgement or disposal of securities under subsection (3) shall becredited to the Investor Education and Protection Fund.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 14 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 38
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.