energy development company ltd Auditors report

INFORMATION OTHER THAN THE STANDALONE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND AUDITORS REPORT THEREON

The Companys Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation of other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report but does not include the standalone financial statements, consolidated financial statements and our auditors reports thereon. The other information as stated above is expected to be made available to us after the date of this auditors 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 during the course of our audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.

When we read the other information as stated above and if we conclude that there is a material misstatement therein, we are required to communicate the matter to those charged with governance and describe necessary actions required as per applicable laws and regulations.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF MANAGEMENT AND THOSE CHARGED WITH GOVERNANCE FOR THE STANDALONE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Companys Board of Directors is responsible for the matters stated in section 134(5) of the Act with respect to the preparation 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 accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Indian Accounting Standards notified under section 133 of the Act read with relevant rules, as amended from time to time. 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 the 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 standalone financial statements that give a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the standalone financial statements, the Board of Directors is responsible for assessing the Companys 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.

The Board of Directors is also responsible for overseeing the Companys financial reporting process.

AUDITORS RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE STANDALONE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the standalone financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditors 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 SAs 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 standalone financial statements.

As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:

• Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the standalone 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 controls;
• 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 system 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 managements 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 Companys ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditors report to the related disclosures in the standalone 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 auditors report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern;
• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the standalone financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the standalone financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.

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.

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.

From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the standalone financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditors 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.

1. As required by the Companies (Auditors Report) Order, 2020 (hereinafter referred to as "the Order"), issued by the Central Government of India in terms of sub-section (11) of section 143 of the Act, we give in the "Annexure A" a statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Order, to the extent applicable.
2. Further to our comments in the annexure referred to in the paragraph above, as required by section 143(3) of the Act, we report that:
1. We have sought and, except for the effects/ possible effects of the matters described in the Basis for Adverse Opinion section above, obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our audit of the aforesaid standalone financial statements;
2. Except for the effects/ possible effects of the matters described in the Basis for Adverse Opinion section above, 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;
3. The Standalone Balance Sheet, the Standalone Statement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), the Standalone Statement of Changes in Equity and the Standalone Statement of Cash Flows dealt with by this Report are in agreement with the relevant books of account maintained for the purpose of preparation of the standalone financial statements;
4. Due to the significance of the matters described in the Basis for Adverse Opinion section above, in our opinion, the aforesaid standalone financial statements do not comply with the requirement and provisions of Indian Accounting Standards notified under Section 133 of the Act;
5. The matters described in the Basis for Adverse Opinion section above especially those relating to non-provision of investments, loans, trade and other receivables as stated in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) and demand for income tax raised by Income Tax Authorities pending resolution thereof as stated in paragraph (g) of that section, in our opinion, may have an adverse effect on the functioning of the Company;
6. On the basis of the written representations received from the directors as on 31st March, 2023 taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on 31st March, 2023 from being appointed as a director in terms of section 164(2) of the Act;
7. The adverse remarks relating to the maintenance of accounts and other matters connected therewith are as stated in the Basis for Adverse Opinion section above; and
8. With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to the standalone financial statements and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate Report in "Annexure B". Our report expresses qualified opinion on the adequacy and operating effectiveness of internal financial controls with reference to the standalone financial statements of the Company.
3. With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditors Report in accordance with Rule 11 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 (as amended from time to time), in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us:

1. Pending litigations (other than those already recognized in the standalone financial statements) having material impact on the financial position of the Company have been disclosed in the standalone financial statements as required in terms of relevant accounting standards and provisions of the Act- refer note no. 40(A)to the standalone financial statements;
2. The Company did not have any long-term contracts including derivative contracts for which there were any material foreseeable losses;
3. There has been no delay in transferring amounts which were required to be transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Company;
4. a. The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief as disclosed in note no. 54 to 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 other person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities ("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 ("Ultimate Beneficiaries") or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries;
2. The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief as disclosed in note no. 54 to the standalone financial statements, no funds have been received by the Company from any person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities ("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 Parties ("Ultimate Beneficiaries") or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries; and
3. Based on the audit procedures that have been considered reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, nothing has come to our notice that has caused us to believe that the representations under sub-clause (i) and (ii) of Rule 11(e) of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 (as amended from time to time), as provided under (a) and (b) above, contain any material misstatement;
5. The Company has not declared or paid any dividend and has also not proposed any dividend during the year and as such requirement for complying with the provisions of section 123 of the Act in this respect are not applicable to the Company; and
6. Proviso to Rule 3(1) of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014, as amended from time to time, for maintaining books of account using accounting software which has a feature of recording audit trail (edit log) facility is applicable to the Company with effect from 1st April, 2023 and accordingly, reporting under Rule 11(g) of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014, as amended from time to time, is not applicable for the financial year ended 31st March, 2023.

1. With respect to the reporting under section 197(16) of the Act to be included in the Auditors Report, in our opinion and according to the information and explanations given to us, the remuneration (including sitting fees) paid by the Company to its directors during the current financial year, except as stated in paragraph (e) of Basis for Adverse Opinion section above, is in accordance with the provisions of section 197 of the Act and is not in excess of the limit laid down therein.

Place : Kolkata

Dated : 30th May, 2023

For A L P S & Co

Chartered Accountants

Firms Registration No.: 313132E

Sd/- A. K. KHETAWAT

Partner

Membership No.: 052751 UDIN : 23052751BGQJLA3326

year, nor have we been informed of any such cases by the management;

2. According to the information and explanations given to us and based on our examination of the books and records of the Company, no report under sub-section (12) of section 143 of the Act, in Form ADT-4, as prescribed under Rule 13 of Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 (as amended from time to time) has been filed with the Central Government. Accordingly, reporting under clause (xi)(b) of paragraph 3 of the Order is not applicable; and
3. One anonymous whistle blower complaint regarding payments to one of the director has been received by directors and officials of the Company. Payments made being remuneration to the said director pending necessary approval as stated in note no. 17.3 have been considered recoverable. The said complaint, even though as explained was disposed of by the management, being taken on record by the Company and communicated to us, has been taken into consideration while determining the nature, timing and extent of audit procedures by us. Other than this, according to the information and explanation given to us and as far as ascertained from examination of the books and records in accordance with generally accepted auditing practices in India, no whistle blower complaints were received during the year.

1. In our opinion and according to the information and explanations given to us, the Company is not a Nidhi Company and accordingly, the Nidhi Rules, 2014 is not applicable to it, hence, reporting under clauses (xii)(a), (xii)(b) and (xii)(c) of paragraph 3 of the Order is not applicable.
2. According to the information and explanations given to us and based on our examination of the records of the Company, transactions with the related parties, except as stated in paragraph (e) of Basis for Adverse Opinion section above, are in compliance with provisions of sections 177 and 188 of the Act where applicable and details of such transactions have been disclosed in the standalone financial statements as required by the applicable accounting standards.
3. a. The Company has appointed a firm of Chartered Accountants to carry out the internal audit of the Company. In our opinion and according to the information and explanations given to us, the internal audit system is commensurate with the size and nature of its business; and

b. We have considered, during the course of our audit, the reports of the internal auditor for the period under audit, issued to the Company during the year and till date, in determining nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures in accordance with the guidance provided in SA 610 "Using the work of Internal Auditors".

4. According to the information and explanations given to us and as represented to us by the management and based on our examination of the records of the Company, the Company has not entered into non-cash transactions with directors or persons connected with them and accordingly, reporting under clause (xv) of paragraph 3 of the Order is not applicable.
5. According to the information and explanations given to us and based on our examination of the books and records of the Company:
1. The Company is not required to be registered under section 45-IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act 1934;
2. The Company has not conducted any non-banking financial or housing finance activities during the year;
3. The Company is not a Core Investment Company as defined in the Core Investment Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016, as amended from time to time, issued by the Reserve Bank of India andaccordingly, reporting under clause (xvi)(c) of paragraph 3 of the Order is not applicable; and
4. In our opinion and based on the representation received from the management, there is no core investment company within the Group (as defined in the Core Investment Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016) and accordingly, reporting under clause (xvi)(d) of paragraph 3 of the Order is not applicable.
6. Based on the examination of the books of accounts, we report that the Company has not incurred cash losses in the current financial year covered by our audit or in the immediately preceding financial year.
7. There has been no resignation of statutory auditors during the year and accordingly, reporting under clause

(xviii) of paragraph 3 of the Order is not applicable.

8. According to the information and explanations given to us and based on the financial ratios (refer note no. 51 to the standalone financial statements), ageing and expected dates of realization of financial assets and payment of financial liabilities, other information accompanying standalone financial statements, our knowledge of the Board of Directors and management plans and based on our examination of the evidences supporting the assumptions, nothing has come to our attention, which causes us to believe that any material uncertainty exists as on the date of the audit report that Company is not capable of meeting its liabilities existing at the date of balance sheet as and when they fall due within a period of one year from the balance sheet date. We, however, state that this is not an assurance as to the future viability of the Company. We further state that our reporting is based on the facts up to the date of the audit report and we neither given any guarantee nor any assurance that all liabilities falling due within a period of one year from the balance sheet date, will get discharged by the Company as and when they fall due.
9. According to the information and explanation given to us and based on our examination of the books of account, the requirement for making expenditure towards corporate social responsibility activities is not applicable as per the criteria specified under section 135 of the Act read with relevant rules issued thereunder from time to time and accordingly, reporting under clauses (xx)(a) and (xx)(b) of paragraph 3 of the Order is not applicable.
10. The reporting under clause (xxi) of paragraph 3 of the Order is not applicable in respect of audit of standalone

financial statements.

Place : Kolkata

Dated : 30th May, 2023

For A L P S & Co

Chartered Accountants

Firms Registration No.: 313132E

Sd/- A. K. KHETAWAT

Partner

Membership No.: 052751 UDIN : 23052751BGQJLA3326

Report on the Internal Financial Controls with reference to the standalone financial statements under clause (i) of sub-section 3 of section 143 of the Companies Act, 2013 (hereinaher referred to as "the Act")

We have audited the internal financial controls with reference to the standalone financial statements of Energy Development CompanyLimited (hereinafter referred to as "the Company") as at 31st March,2023 in conjunction with our audit of the standalone financial statements of the Company for the year ended on that date.

MANAGEMENTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR INTERNAL FINANCIAL CONTROLS WITH REFERENCE TO THE STANDALONE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Board of Directors of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining internal financial controls based on the internal control with reference to the standalone financial statements criteria established by the Company considering the essential components of internal control stated in the Guidance Note on Audit of Internal Financial Controls over Financial Reporting (hereinafter referred to as "the Guidance Note") issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (hereinafter referred to as "the ICAI"). These responsibilities include the design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls that were operating effectively for ensuring the orderly and efficient conduct of its business, including adherence to Companys policies, the safeguarding of its assets, the prevention and detection of frauds and errors, the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, and the timely preparation of reliable financial information, as required under the Act.

AUDITORS RESPONSIBILITY

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Companys internal financial controls with reference to the standalone financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with the Guidance Note issued by the ICAI and the Standards on Auditing notified under section 143(10) of the Act, to the extent applicable to an audit of internal financial controls. Those Standards on Auditing and the Guidance Note require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether adequate internal financial controls with reference to the standalone financial statements was established and maintained and if such controls operated effectively in all material respects.

Our audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the adequacy of the internal financial controls system with reference to the standalone financial statements and their operating effectiveness. Our audit of internal financial controls with reference to the standalone financial statements included obtaining an understanding of internal financial controls with reference to the standalone financial statements, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. The procedures selected depend on the auditors judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the standalone financial statements, whether due to fraud or error.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion on the Companys internal financial controls system with reference to the standalone financial statements.

MEANING OF INTERNAL FINANCIAL CONTROLS WITH REFERENCE TO THE STANDALONE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

A companys internal financial control with reference to the standalone financial statements is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the standalone financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A companys internal financial control with reference to the standalone financial statementsincludes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the standalone financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the companys assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

INHERENT LIMITATIONS OF INTERNAL FINANCIAL CONTROLS WITH REFERENCE TO THE STANDALONE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Because of the inherent limitations of internal financial controls with reference to the standalone financial statements, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. Also, projections of any evaluation of the internal financial controls with reference to the standalone financial statements to future periods are subject to the risk that the internal financial control with reference to the standalone financial statements may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

BASIS FOR QUALIFIED OPINION

According to the information and explanations given to us and based on our audit, the following material weaknesses have been identified in the Companys internal financial controls with reference to the standalone financial statements as at 31st March, 2023:

• The Company did not have an appropriate internal control system in relation to granting of loans to subsidiary and associate and/ or other companies and making recoveries against the trade and other receivables, including ascertaining economic substance and business rationale of the transactions, establishing segregation of duties and determining credentials of the counter parties (refer note no. 13, 16 and 17 to the standalone financial statements);
• With respect to inter corporate deposits, the Company did not have appropriate system to evaluate the credit worthiness of the parties and recoverability of monies given including interest thereon and related party transactions especially with respect to remuneration paid to one of the director of the Company (refer note no. 17.3) and also ensuring the compliances with respect to provisions of the Act so that these are not considered to be prejudicial to the interest of the Company;
• Non-availability of confirmation and reconciliation thereof of certain debit and credit balances including loans, advances, creditors, etc. (refer note no. 52 to the standalone financial statements).

A ‘material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal financial controls with reference to standalone financial statements, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Companys annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

QUALIFIED OPINION

In our opinion, to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, except for the effects/ possible effects of the material weaknesses described in Basis for Qualified Opinion section above on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria, the Company has maintained, in all material respects, an adequate internal financial controls with reference to the standalone financial statements and such internal financial controls with reference to the standalone financial statements were operating effectively as at 31st March,2023, based on the internal control with reference to the standalone financial statements criteria established by the Company considering the essential components of internal control stated in the Guidance Note on Audit of Internal Financial Controls over Financial Reporting issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

We have considered the material weaknesses identified and reported above in determining the nature, timing and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the standalone financial statements of the Company for the year ended 31st March, 2023, and these material weaknesses have affected our opinion on the said standalone financial statements of the Company and we have issued an adverse opinion on the standalone financial statements of the Company.

Place : Kolkata

Dated : 30th May, 2023

For A L P S & Co

Chartered Accountants

Firms Registration No.: 313132E

Sd/- A. K. KHETAWAT

Partner

Membership No.: 052751 UDIN : 23052751BGQJLA3326