Client Information as well as due diligence on clients has become a necessity for professionals in today’s complex business scenario. Such an exercise can be made possible in a structured way. Many professional bodies today advise their members to have KYC about their clients so that professionals can freely exercise and deliver their professional services in the best suited way.

On a review, it has been decided to include the following documents in the indicative list of required documents for opening accounts of proprietary concern: The complete Income Tax return (not just the acknowledgement) in the name of the sole proprietor where the firm’s income is reflected, duly authenticated/ acknowledged by the Income Tax Authorities. Utility bills such as electricity, water, and landline telephone bills in the name of the proprietary concern.

Capital market regulator Sebi vide CIRCULAR MIRSD/SE/Cir-21/2011 , Dated- October 5, 2011 announces introduction of uniform forms and documents for the purpose of customer identification by different market intermediaries like stock exchanges and mutual funds, a step intended to bring uniformity to the process. The new rule will be effective from January 1 next year.

At a time when the government is grappling with the black money menace, the RBI has penalised as many as 48 small banks in just six months, for lapses in implementing customer identification norms and various other violations. In the first six months of 2011, the apex bank has slapped penalties on 48 erring banks , mostly co-operative, as compared to just 15 such actions during 2010. The apex bank has so far slapped penalties between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh on 48 banks during January-June period, according to official data.

India is likely to allow foreign individuals to invest in mutual funds in the next two weeks but with a cumulative cap of USD 10 billion, an official said today. The detailed guidelines are being worked out jointly by the finance ministry, RBI and Sebi. These will be notified by the capital market regulator, the Finance Ministry official said.

RBI/2010-11/303, Dated: December 7, 2010 DBOD. AML. BC. No. 65/14 .01.001/2010-11 The Chairmen/CEOs of all Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs) / All India Financial Institutions/Local Area Banks Dear Sir, Operation of bank accounts & money mules With a view to preventing banks from being used, intentionally or unintentionally, by criminal elements for money laundering or [...]

SEBI vide circular No. SEBI/IMD/CIR No.12 /1 86868 /2009 dated December 11, 2009 has inter alia advised mutual funds to confirm whether all the investor related documents are maintained/ available with them. Further in case the investor related documentation was incomplete, the trustees of the mutual funds were advised not to make further payment to such distributors till full compliance/ completion of the steps enumerated in the said circular and to send a status to SEBI as and when process is completed to satisfaction.

Various queries have been raised by insurers on who can be termed as customer(s) for the purposes of AML guidelines. Keeping the objective of the PMLA and AML guidelines in view, it is hereby clarified that details of the person who funds/pays for an insurance contract, either as beneficial owner or otherwise become relevant and important. Stipulations under clause 3.1 of the AML guidelines will therefore have to be applied to such persons. The term customers also refer to the Proposer/policyholder; Beneficiaries and Assignee for the purposes of AML guidelines.

RESERVE BANK OF INDIA RBI/2008-09/447      A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No.63 April 22, 2009 To All Category-I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam / Sir, Foreign Direct Investment in India -Transfer of Shares / Preference Shares / Convertible Debentures by way of Sale – Modified Reporting Mechanism Attention of the Authorised Dealer Category – I (AD [...]

MEAL vouchers and prepaid cards have come under the regulatory scanner. In an attempt to check possible moneylaundering, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed that only banks and finance companies be allowed to issue prepaid cards which are accepted outside a closed group. This means that issuers who are neither banks nor finance companies will have to restrict card issuance to a closed group.