1. We have audited the accompanying standalone financial statements of Antony Waste Handling Cell Limited
(‘the Company’), which comprise the Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2024, the Statement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), the Statement of Cash Flows and the Statement of Changes in Equity for the year then ended, and notes to the standalone financial statements, including material accounting policy information and other explanatory information.
2. In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, except for the possible effects of the matter described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion section of our report, the aforesaid standalone financial statements give the information required by the Companies Act, 2013 (‘the Act’) in the manner so required and give a true and fair view in conformity with the Indian Accounting Standards (‘Ind AS’) specified under section 133 of the Act read with the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules, 2015 and other accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Company as at 31 March 2024, and its profit (including other comprehensive income), its cash flows and the changes in equity for the year ended on that date.
Basis for Qualified Opinion
3. As explained in Note 46 to the accompanying standalone financial statements, the Company’s non-current trade receivables as at 31 March 2024 include certain long outstanding receivables aggregating H 566.39 lakhs due from two Municipal Corporations, which are under dispute but considered good and recoverable by the management. However, in the absence of sufficient appropriate audit evidence to corroborate the management’s assessment of recoverability of these balances, we are unable to comment on adjustments, if any, that may be required to be made to the carrying amounts of such receivables as at 31 March 2024 and the consequential impact, on the accompanying standalone financial statements.
Our audit report dated 24 May 2023 on the standalone financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023 was also qualified in respect of this matter.
4. We conducted our audit in accordance with the Standards on Auditing specified under section 143(10) of the Act. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements section of our report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the Code of Ethics issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (‘ICAI’) together with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements under the provisions of the Act and the rules thereunder, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements and the Code of Ethics. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our qualified opinion.
Emphasis of Matter
5. We draw attention to Note 41(e) of the standalone financial statements regarding the search operation carried out by the Income Tax Department (‘the department’) during October 2021 and demand orders received by the Company in the current year. Given the uncertainty and pending outcome of the assessment proceedings, the adjustments, if any required to these standalone financial statements owing to the impact of aforesaid matter, is presently not ascertainable. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.
Key Audit Matter
6. Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the standalone financial statements of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
7. In addition to the matter described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion, we have determined the matter described below to be the key audit matter to be communicated in our report.
Key audit matter
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How our audit addressed the key audit matter
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Recoverability of amounts and claims from municipal corporations
The Company, as at 31 March 2024, has trade receivables and other current financial assets (reimbursement receivable from municipalities) amounting to H 6,534.47 lakhs and H 3,839.01 lakhs, respectively, which significantly represents receivables from various municipal
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Our audit procedures to address this key audit matter included, but not limited to the following:
• Obtained an understanding of the management processes, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of key internal financial controls over assessing the recoverability of trade receivables and other current financial assets;
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Key audit matter
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How our audit addressed the key audit matter
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corporations (customers). Such amounts are outstanding
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•
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Discussed extensively with management regarding
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towards bills, escalation claim and minimum wages in
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steps taken for recovering the amounts and obtained an
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respect of ongoing as well as completed projects and
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understanding of the developments during the year with
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which are further under review/litigation with/by the
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respect to disputes cases and corroborated the updates
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respective authorities.
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with the underlying relevant documents;
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Management, based on contractual tenability, past
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•
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Evaluated the Company’s policy for making allowances
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experience with the municipal corporations, progress of
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for doubtful debts as per expected credit loss method
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the discussions and relying on the legal opinion obtained
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with reference to the requirements of the prevailing Indian
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from independent legal counsel for specific matters,
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Accounting Standards;
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has provided appropriate amount of provision for these
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•
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Assessed the reasonability of judgements exercised
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receivables in the accompanying standalone financial
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and estimates made by the management in recognition
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statements of the Company.
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of these receivables and validated them with other
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Considering the materiality of the amounts involved,
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corroborating evidences;
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uncertainties associated with the outcome of the review
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•
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Verified the contractual arrangements to support
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and significant management judgement involved in
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management’s position on the tenability and recovery of
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assessment of recoverability of such amounts basis their progress of the discussions with corporations, this has
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these receivables;
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been considered to be a key audit matter in the audit of the standalone financial statements.
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•
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Reviewed the legal opinions obtained by the management from independent legal counsel and confirmation obtained by the management with respect to recoverability of
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Further, out of the above, current trade receivables and
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such receivables as on 31 March 2024. Further, obtained
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other current financial assets amounting to H 1,500.00
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independent legal confirmations from the attorneys
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lakhs and H 3,505.96 lakhs, respectively, represent
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representing the Company in respect of ongoing disputed
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amounts and claims recoverable from two municipal
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matters to confirm the updates and probability of
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corporations and are overdue for a substantial period of time. Further, the aforesaid trade receivables include
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outflow if any; and
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H 1,500.00 lakhs which is under dispute with the municipal
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•
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Assessed the accuracy and completeness of the disclosures made by the management are in accordance
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authority and the matter is currently sub-judice at the Hon’ble Supreme Court. These have been considered as fundamental to the understanding of the users of standalone financial statements and accordingly we draw attention to Notes 47 and 48 to the standalone financial statements, regarding uncertainties relating to timing of recoverability of aforesaid receivables.
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with the applicable accounting framework.
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Information other than the Financial Statements and Auditor’s Report thereon
8. The Company’s Board of Directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Director’s Report, but does not include the standalone financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The Director’s Report is expected to be made available to us after the date of this auditor's report.
Our opinion on the standalone financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the standalone financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information identified above when it becomes available and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the standalone financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
When we read the other information, if we conclude that there is a material misstatement therein, we are required to communicate the matter to those charged with governance.
Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with Governance for the Standalone Financial Statements
9. The accompanying standalone financial statements have been approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company’s Board of Directors are responsible for the matters stated in section 134(5) of the Act with respect to the preparation and presentation of these standalone financial statements that give a true and fair view of the financial position, financial performance including other comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows of the Company in accordance with the Ind AS specified under section 133 of the Act and other accounting principles generally accepted in India. This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding of the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities; selection and application of appropriate accounting policies; making judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls, that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, relevant to the
preparation and presentation of the financial statements that give a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
10. In preparing the financial statements, the Board of Directors is responsible for assessing the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Board of Directors either intends to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
11. The Board of Directors is also responsible for overseeing the Company’s financial reporting process.
Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements
12. Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with Standards on Auditing will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
13. As part of an audit in accordance with Standards on Auditing, specified under section 143(10) of the Act we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also:
• Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control;
• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. Under section 143(3)(i) of the Act we are also responsible for expressing our opinion on whether the Company has adequate internal financial controls with reference to financial statements in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls;
• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by management;
• Conclude on the appropriateness of Board of Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether
a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern; and
• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
14. We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
15. We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, related safeguards.
16. From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor’s report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
17. As required by section 197(16) of the Act, based on our audit, we report that the Company has paid remuneration to its directors during the year in accordance with the provisions of and limits laid down under section 197 read with Schedule V to the Act.
18. As required by the Companies (Auditor’s Report) Order, 2020 (‘the Order’) issued by the Central Government of India in terms of section 143(11) of the Act we give in the Annexure I a statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Order, to the extent applicable.
19. Further to our comments in Annexure I, as required by section 143(3) of the Act based on our audit, we report, to the extent applicable, that:
a) We have sought and except for the matter described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion section, obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purpose of our audit of the accompanying standalone financial statements;
b) In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have been kept by the Company so far as it appears from our examination of those books except for the possible effects of the matter described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion section and the matters stated in paragraph 19(i)(vi) below on reporting under Rule 11(g) of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 (as amended);
c) The standalone financial statements dealt with by this report are in agreement with the books of account;
d) Except for the possible effects of the matter described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion section, in our opinion, the aforesaid standalone financial statements comply with Ind AS specified under section 133 of the Act;
e) In our opinion, the matters described in paragraphs 3, 5 and 7 under the Basis for Qualified Opinion section, Emphasis of Matter section and Key Audit Matter section, respectively, may have an adverse effect on the functioning of the Company;
f) On the basis of the written representations received from the directors and taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on 31 March 2024 from being appointed as a director in terms of section 164(2) of the Act;
g) The qualification relating to the maintenance of accounts and other matters connected therewith are as stated in paragraph 3 of the Basis for Qualified Opinion section, paragraph 19(b) above on reporting under section 143(3)(b) of the Act and paragraph 19(i)(vi) below on reporting under Rule 11(g) of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 (as amended);
h) With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to financial statements of the Company as on 31 March 2024 and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate report in Annexure II wherein we have expressed a qualified opinion; and
i) With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor’s Report in accordance with rule 11 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 (as amended), in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us:
i. Except for the possible effects of the matter described in paragraph 3 of the Basis for
Qualified Opinion section, the Company as detailed in Note 41 and Note 48 to the standalone financial statements has disclosed the impact of pending litigations on its financial position as at 31 March 2024;
ii. Except for the possible effects of the matter described in paragraph 3 of the Basis for Qualified Opinion section, the Company, did not have any long-term contracts including derivative contracts for which there were any material foreseeable losses as at 31 March 2024;
iii. There were no amounts which were required to be transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Company during the year ended 31 March 2024;
iv. a. The management has represented that,
to the best of its knowledge and belief, as disclosed in Note 52 of the standalone financial statements, no funds have been advanced or loaned or invested (either from borrowed funds or securities premium or any other sources or kind of funds) by the Company to or in any person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities (‘the intermediaries’), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the intermediary shall, whether, directly or indirectly lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Company (‘the Ultimate Beneficiaries’) or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries;
b. The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, as disclosed in Note 52 of the standalone financial statements, no funds have been received by the Company from any person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities (‘the Funding Parties’), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Company shall, whether directly or indirectly, lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Funding Party (‘Ultimate Beneficiaries’) or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries; and
c. Based on such audit procedures performed as considered reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, nothing has come to our notice that has caused us to believe that the management representations under sub-clauses (a) and (b) above contain any material misstatement.
v. The Company has not declared or paid any dividend during the year ended 31 March 2024.
vi. Based on our examination which included test checks, except for instance mentioned below, the Company in respect of financial year commencing on 1 April 2023, has used an accounting software for maintaining its books of account which has a feature of recording audit trail (edit log) facility and the same has been operated throughout the year for all relevant transactions recorded in the software. Further, during the course of our audit we did not come across any instance of audit trail feature being tampered with, other than the consequential impact of the exception given below:
Nature of exception noted
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Details of exception
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Instances of accounting software for maintaining books of account for which the feature of recording audit trail (edit log) facility was not operated throughout the year for all relevant transactions recorded in the software.
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The audit trail feature was not enabled at the database level for accounting software to log any direct data changes, used for maintenance of all accounting records by the Company.
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For Walker Chandiok & Co LLP
Chartered Accountants
Firm’s Registration No.: 001076N/N500013
Rakesh R. Agarwal
Partner
Membership No.: 109632 UDIN: 24109632BKFBIR4856
Place: Mumbai Date: 24 May 2024
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