The directors of Atlas Fisheries Pvt Ltd – Estevam D’Souza and Estella D’Souza, additional director Earnest D’Souza, company secretary Dharmaraj Bhonsle, auditor A Kamat, and three others – Elvis D’Souza, Sinjy Fernandes and Prakash Palkar have been charged with forging company documents as well as fake resignation letter of its other shareholder and transferring all 250 shares in their names.
According to complainant Teofile D’Souza, his signatures on the company’s balance sheet and general business profile were forged. He also complained that the accused had forged a resignation letter that stated he is quitting from the post with effect from July 2010.
The accused allegedly carried out the illegalities from September 1, 2008 to May 11, 2015 taking advantage of Teofile’s illness. However, in 2014, when the complainant demanded for company records, Estevam assaulted him after which doctors advised him complete bed rest.
“On April 24, 2015, I approached an independent company secretary, RKCS & Company to make a search of the company records. I was thereafter informed that Estevam, Estella, Earnest, Dharmaraj, Prakash and A V Kamat committed misappropriation, fraud, forgery and cheating of the records,” the complaint copy reads.
The inquiry had also revealed that remuneration for the directors after his ‘alleged resignation’ was raised from Rs 1 lakh in 2010 to Rs 24 lakh in the following year and Rs 43.20 lakh in 2012. “The amounts are misappropriated,” Teofile alleged in his detailed complaint, supported with documents pointing out at gross illegalities and irregularities.
The police have registered an FIR under relevant sections of the IPC. “We will call the persons named in the FIR for questioning. If there is evidence they could be arrested,” an officer said.
