The Ministry of Corporate Affairs, through the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), has implemented safeguards to prevent misuse or impersonation of its summons and notices. SFIO, established under the Companies Act, 2013, investigates complex corporate frauds and issues notices under Section 217 of the Act. To ensure authenticity, all summons and notices are now digitally generated, featuring QR codes and unique Document Identification Numbers (DINs). Recipients can instantly verify the legitimacy of communications through an online verification system, offering immediate assurance against fraud or impersonation. Officers are mandated to issue only digital notices except in rare, exceptional circumstances. Additionally, SFIO has instituted a multi-layer review mechanism to oversee the issuance process, enhancing transparency and accountability. These measures collectively aim to protect citizens, maintain procedural integrity, and reinforce confidence in the investigative process, while ensuring that corporate fraud investigations remain secure, efficient, and resistant to misuse.
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
SFIO institutes safeguards to prevent misuse of summons and notices
Digitally generated notices with QR codes, DINs and online verification systems introduced to ensure authenticity and protect citizens from impersonation
Posted On: 21 NOV 2025 2:25PM by PIB Delhi
The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), established under the Companies Act, 2013, investigates and prosecutes complex corporate frauds assigned under section 212 of the Companies Act.
During the course of investigation, Summons/Notices are issued by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) as per the provisions of Section 217 of the Companies Act, 2013.
In this context, SFIO has instituted the following set of technical and procedural safeguards to prevent impersonation or misuse of Summons/Notices.
Summons/Notices issued by SFIO are digitally generated and contain a QR code and a unique document identification number (DIN). The officers of SFIO are mandated to issue only digitally generated Summons/Notices except in certain rare and exceptional circumstances.
Receiver of Summons/Notices issued by SFIO can verify its authenticity through any of the following 2 options:
The system of online verification of Summons/Notices issued by SFIO is put in place to help the receiver to instantly verify the authenticity of the communication received.
These verification systems have been put in place to give citizens immediate assurance that any communication they receive is genuine and to prevent impersonation or misuse.
Further, to enhance oversight, a transparent multi-layer review mechanism is in place at SFIO to oversee the issuance of Summons and Notices.
