Section 24, 25, 26 and 27 of Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act 2019

Section 24. Punishment for repeat offenders

Whoever having been previously convicted of an offence punishable under this Chapter, except the offence under section 26, is subsequently convicted of an offence shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than five years but which may extend to ten years and with fine which shall not be less than ten lakh rupees but which may extend to fifty crore rupees.

Section 25. Offences by deposit takers other than individuals

(1) Where an offence under this Act
has been committed by a deposit taker other than an individual, every person who, at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the deposit taker for the conduct of its business, as well as the deposit taker, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall render any such person liable to any punishment provided in this Act, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a deposit taker other than an individual, and it is proved that the offence-
(a) has been committed with the consent or connivance of; or
(b) is attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary, promoter,
partner, employee or other officer of the deposit taker, such person shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

Section 26. Punishment for contravention of section 10

Whoever fails to give the intimation required under sub-section (1) of section 10 or fails to furnish any such statements, information or particulars as required under sub-section (2) of that section, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five lakh rupees.

Section 27. Cognizance of offences

Notwithstanding anything contained in section 4, no Designated Court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under that section except upon a complaint made by the Regulator:

Provided that the provisions of section 4 and this section shall not apply in relation to a deposit taker which is a company.