Allied Blenders & Distillers Ltd Auditor Reports

To the Members of Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited Report on the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements

Opinion

1. We have audited the accompanying standalone financial statements of Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited (‘the Company?), which comprise the Standalone Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025, the Standalone Statement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), the Standalone Statement of Cash Flow and the Standalone 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, 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 2025, and its profit (including other comprehensive income (gain)), its cash flows and the changes in equity for the year ended on that date.

Basis for Opinion

3. 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 standalone 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 opinion.

Emphasis of Matters

Customer Dispute

4. We draw attention to the matter stated in Note 48(xx) (t) to the accompanying standalone financial statements, wherein it is stated that, one of the customer, Canteen Stores Department (‘CSD?) had raised a debit memorandum resulting into demand amounting to

3,398.72 lakhs (net of adjustments) on the Company on account of differential trade rates for sales made to CSD during the period 1 April 2012 to 31 October 2017, which is being contested by the Company. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.

Litigation under Income Tax Act, 1961

5. We draw attention to the matter stated in Note 63 of the accompanying standalone financial statements regarding the search operation carried out by the Income Tax Department (‘the department?) during December 2023, pursuant to which demand orders have been received by the Company during the year ended 31 March 2025, as further described in the aforesaid note. Subsequent to year-end, the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) has stayed 90% of such demands raised. Basis legal assessment, the management is of the view that no adjustments are required to the financial statements. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.

Key Audit Matters

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 standalone financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

7. We have determined the matters described below to be the key audit matters to be communicated in our report.

Key audit matter	How our audit addressed the key audit matter
Revenue Recognition	Our audit procedures, related to revenue recognition, included, but were not limited, to the following:
Refer to note 2(d) to the accompanying standalone financial statements for the Company?s material accounting policy information relating to revenue recognition, note 33 and 49 for the details of revenue recognized during the year.	Understood the process of revenue recognition and evaluated the appropriateness of the accounting policy adopted by the management on revenue recognition including determination of transaction price and satisfaction of performance obligations, in accordance with Ind AS 115;
The Company derives its revenue from sale of liquor products to a wide range of customers through a network of private distributors (open market), part corporation market and full corporation market. Such revenue is recognised in accordance with the principles of Ind AS 115, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (‘Ind AS 115?) which requires management to make certain key judgements, such as, identification of performance obligations in contracts with customers, determination of transaction price for the contract including variable consideration in the form of rebates, discounts and pay-outs to distributors under various promotional schemes offered by the Company, and assessment of satisfaction of the performance obligations under each contract represented by the transfer of control of the products sold to the customers including state government corporations.	Evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of Company?s key internal controls around revenue recognition including controls relating to determination of variable consideration and satisfaction of performance obligations;
Evaluation is also required to be made in respect of principal versus agent relationship of the Company with its ‘tie-up manufacturing units? as explained in the material accounting policy information as referred above.	On a sample basis, tested revenue transactions recorded during the year, and transactions recorded in specific period before and after year end, basis inspection of supporting documents such as customer contracts, purchase orders, price lists, invoices, proof of dispatch and delivery including regulatory documents used for movement of liquor as per applicable regulations in order to ensure revenue is recorded with the correct amount and in the correct period;
Owing to the multiplicity of the Company?s products, volume of sales transactions, size of distribution network, nature of customers and varied terms of contracts with different customers, revenue recognition is determined to be an area involving significant risk in line with the requirements of the Standards on Auditing and audit of revenue recognised during the year required significant auditor attention and industry knowledge, and accordingly, revenue recognition is considered as a key audit matter in the current year.	Performed substantive testing by selecting a sample of discounts, rebate and other pay-out transactions with distributors recorded during the year as well as period end accrual basis the promotion schemes offered by the Company;
	Performed substantive analytical procedures such as variance analysis on revenue to identify any unusual trends;
	Evaluated adequacy of the disclosures made in the accompanying standalone financial statements in respect of revenue recognition in accordance with financial reporting framework.
Litigations and claims - provisions and contingent liabilities	Our audit procedures, related to provisions and contingent liabilities, included, but were not limited, to the following:
Refer to note 2(n) to the accompanying standalone financial statements for the Company?s material accounting policy information relating to Provision, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets and note 48 for contingent liabilities disclosure.	Obtained an understanding from the management with respect to process and controls followed by the Company for:
The Company is involved in various direct, indirect tax and other litigations (‘litigations?), that are pending with different statutory authorities as at year end.	- identification and monitoring of significant developments in relation to the litigations, including completeness thereof;
The amounts involved are material and the application of accounting principles as given under Ind AS 37, Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets, in order to determine the amount to be recorded as a liability or to be disclosed as a contingent liability, in each case, is inherently subjective, and needs careful evaluation and judgement to be applied by the management.	- assessment of accounting treatment for each such litigation identified under Ind AS 37 accounting principles; and
This judgement is dependent on a number of significant assumptions and assessments which involves interpreting the various applicable rules, regulations, practices and considering precedents in the various jurisdictions.	- measurement of amounts involved.
This matter is considered as a key audit matter, in view of the inherent high estimation uncertainty regarding the outcome of these litigations, the significance of the amounts involved and the high degree of subjectivity involved in management?s judgement as to whether the amount should be recognized as a provision, only disclosed as contingent liability in the standalone financial statement or not even disclosed being considered as remote.	Evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of key controls around above process; Obtained the list of litigations from the management and reviewed their assessment of the likelihood of outflow of economic resources being probable, possible or remote in respect of the litigations. This involved assessing the probability of an unfavourable outcome of a given proceeding and the reliability of estimates of related amounts;
	Performed substantive procedures on the underlying calculations supporting the provisions recorded and contingent liabilities disclosed by the management in respect of identified and ongoing litigations;
	Assessed management?s conclusions through discussions held with their in house tax experts and understanding precedents in similar cases;
	Tested the underlying calculations supporting the provisions recorded and contingent liabilities disclosed by the management in respect of identified and ongoing litigations;
	Obtained and evaluated the independent confirmations from the attorney/consultants representing the Company before the various authorities;
	Engaged auditor?s experts, who obtained an understanding of the current status of the litigations, conducted discussions with the management, reviewed independent legal advice received by the Company, if any and considered relevant legal provisions and available precedents to validate the conclusions made by the management; and
	Assessed and validated the adequacy and appropriateness of the disclosures made by the management in the standalone financial statements.

Information other than the Standalone 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 Annual Report, but does not include the standalone financial statements and our auditor?s report thereon.

Our opinion on the standalone financial statements does not cover the other information and we will 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. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

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 standalone 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 standalone 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 standalone 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 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 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 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 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 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.

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 standalone 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 A 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 A, 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 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) Except for 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), 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;

c) The standalone financial statements dealt with by this report are in agreement with the books of account;

d) In our opinion, the aforesaid standalone financial statements comply with Ind AS specified under section 133 of the Act;

e) The matter described in paragraph 4 and 5 under the Emphasis of Matter, in our opinion, 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 2025 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 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 2025 and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate report in Annexure B wherein we have expressed an unmodified 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. the Company has disclosed the impact of pending litigations on its financial position as at 31 March 2025;

ii. the Company did not have any long-term contracts including derivative contracts for which there were any material foreseeable losses as at 31 March 2025;

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 2025;

iv. a. The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, as disclosed in note 68(f) 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 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 the Ultimate Beneficiaries;

b. The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, as disclosed in note 68(g) to 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. As stated in note 45(B) to the accompanying standalone financial statements, the Board of Directors of the Company have proposed final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2025 which is subject to the approval of the members at the ensuing Annual General Meeting. The dividend declared is in accordance with section 123 of the Act to the extent it applies to declaration of dividend.

vi. As stated in note 65 to the standalone financial statements and based on our examination which included test checks, except for instance mentioned below, the Company, in respect of financial year commencing on or after 1 April 2024, 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. Furthermore, the audit trail has been preserved by the Company as per the statutory requirements for record retention.

Annexure A referred to in paragraph 18 of the Independent Auditor?s Report of even date to the members of Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited on the standalone financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025

In terms of the information and explanations sought by us and given by the Company and the books of account and records examined by us in the normal course of audit, and to the best of our knowledge and belief, we report that: (i) (a) (A) The Company has maintained proper records showing full particulars, including quantitative details and situation of its property, plant and equipment, capital work-in-progress, and relevant details of right-of-use assets.

(B) The Company has maintained proper records showing full particulars of intangible assets. (b) The Company has a regular programme of physical verification of its property, plant and equipment capital work-in-progress and relevant details of right-of-use assets under which the assets are physically verified in a phased manner over a period of 3 years, which in our opinion, is reasonable having regard to the size of the Company and the nature of its assets. In accordance with this programme, certain property, plant and equipment were verified during the year and no material discrepancies were noticed on such verification.

(c) The title deeds of all the immovable properties held by the Company (other than properties where the Company is the lessee and the lease agreements are duly executed in favour of the lessee), disclosed in Note 5 to the standalone financial statements, are held in the name of the Company.

(d) The Company has not revalued its property, plant and equipment (including right-of-use assets) or intangible assets during the year.

(e) No proceedings have been initiated or are pending against the Company for holding any benami property under the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 (as amended) and rules made thereunder.

(ii) (a) The management has conducted physical verification of inventory at reasonable intervals during the year, except for goods-in-transit. In our opinion, the coverage and procedure of such verification by the management is appropriate and no discrepancies of 10% or more in the aggregate for each class of inventory were noticed as compared to book records. In respect of goods-in-transit, these have been confirmed from corresponding receipt and/or dispatch inventory records.

(b) As disclosed in Note 61 to the standalone financial statements, the Company has been sanctioned a working capital limit in excess of Rs. 5 crores by banks based on the security of current assets. The quarterly returns/statements, in respect of the working capital limits have been filed by the Company with such banks and such returns/ statements are not in agreement with the books of account of the Company for the respective periods which were not subject to audit/review, as mentioned below:

Name of the Bank	Working capital limit sanctioned ( in lakhs)	Nature of current assets offered as security	Quarter	Nature of items	Information disclosed as per return ( in lakhs)	Information as per books of accounts ( in lakhs)	Difference ( in lakhs)
Axis Bank, State Bank of India, Yes Bank, South Indian Bank, CSB	65,136.00	Current Assets	3 months period ended	Current Assets	177,370.00	176,450.28	(919.72)
Bank, Saraswat Cooperative Bank, IDFC First Bank, IndusInd Bank			30 June 2024	Current Liabilities	181,046.00	187,644.94	6,598.94
IDFC First Bank, IndusInd Bank, ICICI Bank	65,000.00	Current Assets	9 months period ended	Current Assets	247,075.00	243,587.17	(3,487.83)
			31 December 2024	Current Liabilities	171,158.00	168,785.45	(2,372.55)

(iii) The Company has not provided any guarantee or security to companies, firms, limited liability partnerships during the year. Further, the Company has made investments in, and granted unsecured loans or advances in the nature of loans to companies and limited liability partnership and employees during the year, in respect of which:

(a) The Company has provided loans or advances in the nature of loans to Subsidiaries and employees during the year as per details given below:

Aggregate amount granted during the year:		32.36
-	Subsidiaries	1.00
-	Others (Employees)
Balance outstanding as at balance sheet		1,766.38
date (including amounts granted in earlier		1.83
years):
-	Subsidiaries
-	Others (Employees)

(b) The Company has not provided any guarantee or given any security during the year. However, the Company has made investments in 2 entities (which became subsidiaries) amounting to 9,143.48 lakhs and has granted loans to 4 subsidiaries amounting to 32.26 lakhs during the year. In our opinion, and according to the information and explanations given to us, such investments and loans made during the year are, prima facie, not prejudicial to the interest of the Company.

(c) In respect of loans and advances in the nature of loans granted by the Company, the schedule of repayment of principal and payment of interest has been stipulated and the repayments/receipts of principal and interest are regular. Further, to the extent such repayments have not been demanded, in our opinion, repayment of principal and interest amounts are also considered to be regular.

(d) There is no overdue amount in respect of loans or advances in the nature of loans granted to such companies, firms, LLPs or other parties.

(e) The Company has not granted any loans which has fallen due during the year. Further, no fresh loans were granted to any party to settle the overdue loans/advances in nature of loan that existed as at the beginning of the year. (f) The Company has granted loans which are repayable on demand, as per details below:

Particulars	All Parties	Promoters	Related Parties
Aggregate of loans/ advances in nature of loan	1,766.38	-	1,766.38
- Repayable on demand ( in lakhs)
Total ( in lakhs)	1,768.21	-	1,766.38
Percentage of loans/ advances in nature of loan to the total loans	99.90%	-	99.90%

iv. In our opinion, and according to the information and explanations given to us, the Company has complied with the provisions of sections 185 and 186 of the Act in respect of loans and investments made and there are no guarantees and security provided by it, as applicable. v. In our opinion, and according to the information and explanations given to us, the Company has not accepted any deposits or there are no amounts which have been deemed to be deposits within the meaning of sections 73 to 76 of the Act and the Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules, 2014 (as amended). Accordingly, reporting under clause 3(v) of the Order is not applicable to the Company. vi. The Central Government has not specified maintenance of cost records under sub-section (1) of section 148 of the Act, in respect of Company?s products/ services / business activities. Accordingly, reporting under clause 3(vi) of the Order is not applicable. vii. (a) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations given to us, undisputed statutory dues including goods and services tax, provident fund, employees? state insurance, income-tax, sales-tax, service tax, duty of customs, duty of excise, cess and other material statutory dues, as applicable, have generally been regularly deposited with the appropriate authorities by the Company, though value added tax have not been generally deposited with appropriate authorities for which there have been significant delays. Further, no undisputed amounts payable in respect thereof were outstanding at the year-end for a period of more than six months from the date they became payable.

(b) According to the information and explanations given to us, we report that there are no statutory dues referred in sub-clause (a) which have not been deposited with the appropriate authorities on account of any dispute except for the following:

Name of the statute	Nature of dues	Gross Amount ( in lakhs) (including interest and penalty)	Amount paid under Protest ( in lakhs)	Amount unpaid ( in lakhs)	Period to which the amount relates	Forum where dispute is pending
GST Act, 2017	Goods and Services Tax	726.19	50.00	676.19	July 2017 to July 2020	High Court of Telangana
GST Act, 2017	Goods and Services Tax	3,054.66	-	3,054.66	July 2017 to March 2021	CGST Department, Tirupati, Andhra pradesh
GST Act, 2017	Goods and Services Tax	192.83	19.28	173.55	FY 2019-20	GST Department, Haryana
Finance Act, 1994	Service Tax	538.08	20.11	517.97	FY 2011-12 to FY 2014- 15	Central Excise and Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), Mumbai
MVAT Act, 2002	Value Added Tax	3,248.90	9.87	3,239.03	FY 2011-12	Maharashtra Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal
MVAT Act, 2002	Value Added Tax	602.71	7.73	594.98	FY 2015-16	Joint Commissioner of Sales Tax
MVAT Act, 2002	Value Added Tax	582.58	1.24	581.34	FY 2016-17	Joint Commissioner of Sales Tax
MVAT Act, 2002	Value Added Tax	221.09	12.16	208.93	FY 2017-18	Joint Commissioner of Sales Tax Appeals
MVAT Act, 2002	Value Added Tax	290.31	-	290.31	FY 2012-13	Joint Commissioner of Sales Tax
MVAT Act, 2002	Value Added Tax	356.85	-	356.85	FY 2013-14	Joint Commissioner of Sales Tax
MVAT Act, 2002	Value Added Tax	506.47	-	506.47	FY 2014-15	Appeal before Maharashtra Sales Tax Tribunal, Mumbai
Income Tax, 1961	Income Tax	60,145.00	-	60,145.00	A.Y. 2014-15 to A.Y. 2023-24	Commissioner of Income Tax Appeals, Mumbai

viii. According to the information and explanations given to us, we report that no transactions were surrendered or disclosed as income during the year in the tax assessments under the Income Tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961) which have not been previously recorded in the books of accounts.

ix. (a) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations given to us, the Company has not defaulted in repayment of its loans or borrowings or in the payment of interest thereon to any lender.

(b) According to the information and explanations given to us including representation received from the management of the Company, and on the basis of our audit procedures, we report that the Company has not been declared a wilful defaulter by any bank or financial institution or government or any government authority, as the case may be.

(c) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations given to us, money raised by way of term loans were applied for the purposes for which these were obtained.

(d) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations given to us, and on an overall examination of the financial statements of the Company, funds raised by the Company on short term basis have, prima facie, not been utilised for long term purposes.

(e) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations given to us and on an overall examination of the financial statements of the Company, the Company has not taken any funds from any entity or person on account of or to meet the obligations of its subsidiaries.

(f) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations given to us, the Company has not raised any loans during the year on the pledge of securities held in its subsidiaries.

x. (a) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations given to us, money raised by way of initial public offer were applied for the purposes for which these were obtained.

(b) According to the information and explanations given to us and on the basis of our examination of the records of the Company, the Company has not made any preferential allotment or private placement of shares or (fully, partially or optionally) convertible debentures during the year. Accordingly, reporting under clause 3(x)(b) of the Order is not applicable to the Company.

xi. (a) To the best of our knowledge and according to the information and explanations given to us, no fraud by the Company or no fraud on the Company has been noticed or reported during the period covered by our audit.

(b) According to the information and explanations given to us including the representation made to us by the management of the Company, no report under sub-section 12 of section 143 of the Act has been filed by the auditors in Form ADT-4 as prescribed under rule 13 of Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014, with the Central Government for the period covered by our audit.

(c) According to the information and explanations given to us including the representation made to us by the management of the Company, there are no whistle-blower complaints received by the Company during the year.

xii. The Company is not a Nidhi Company and the Nidhi Rules, 2014 are not applicable to it. Accordingly, reporting under clause 3(xii) of the Order is not applicable to the Company.

xiii. In our opinion and according to the information and explanations given to us, all transactions entered into by the Company with the related parties are in compliance with sections 177 and 188 of the Act, where applicable. Further,thedetailsofsuchrelatedpartytransactionshave been disclosed in the standalone financial statements, as required under Indian Accounting Standard (Ind AS) 24, Related Party Disclosures specified in Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules 2015 as prescribed under section 133 of the Act.

xiv. (a) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations given to us, the Company has an internal audit system which is commensurate with the size and nature of its business as required under the provisions of section 138 of the Act.

(b) We have considered the reports issued by the Internal Auditors of the Company till date for the period under audit.

xv. According to the information and explanation given to us, the Company has not entered into any non-cash transactions with its directors or persons connected with its directors and accordingly, reporting under clause 3(xv) of the Order with respect to compliance with the provisions of section 192 of the Act are not applicable to the Company. xvi. The Company is not required to be registered under section 45-IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Accordingly, reporting under clauses 3(xvi)(a), (b) and (c) of the Order are not applicable to the Company.

(d) Based on the information and explanations given to us and as represented by the management of the Company, the Group (as defined in Core Investment Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016) does not have any CIC.

xvii. The Company has not incurred any cash losses in the current financial year as well as the immediately preceding financial year. xviii. There has been no resignation of the statutory auditors during the year. Accordingly, reporting under clause 3(xviii) of the Order is not applicable to the Company. xix. According to the information and explanations given to us and on the basis of the financial ratios, ageing and expected dates of realisation of financial assets and payment of financial liabilities, other information in the standalone financial statements, our knowledge of the plans of the Board of Directors and management and based on our examination of the evidence 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 indicating 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 give 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.

xx. According to the information and explanations given to us, the Company does not have any unspent amounts towards Corporate Social Responsibility in respect of any ongoing or other than ongoing project as at the end of the financial year. Accordingly, reporting under clause 3(xx) of the Order is not applicable to the Company. xxi. The reporting under clause 3(xxi) of the Order is not applicable in respect of audit of standalone financial statements of the Company. Accordingly, no comment has been included in respect of said clause under this report.

Annexure B - Independent Auditor?s 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 (‘the Act?)

1. In conjunction with our audit of the standalone financial statements of Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited (‘the Company?) as at and for the year ended 31 March 2025, we have audited the internal financial controls with reference to standalone financial statements of the Company as at that date.

Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with Governance for Internal Financial Controls

2. The Company?s Board of Directors is responsible for establishing and maintaining internal financial controls based on the internal financial controls with reference to 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. 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 the Company?s business, including adherence to the Company?s 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.

Auditor?s Responsibility for the Audit of the Internal Financial Controls with Reference to Standalone Financial Statements

3. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company?s internal financial controls with reference to standalone financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with the Standards on Auditing issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (‘ICAI?) prescribed under Section 143(10) of the Act, to the extent applicable to an audit of internal financial controls with reference to standalone financial statements, and the Guidance Note on Audit of Internal Financial Controls Over Financial Reporting (‘the Guidance Note?) issued by the ICAI. Those Standards 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 standalone financial statements were established and maintained and if such controls operated effectively in all material respects.

4. Our audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to standalone financial statements and their operating effectiveness. Our audit of internal financial controls with reference to standalone financial statements includes obtaining an understanding of such internal financial controls, 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 auditor?s judgement, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the standalone financial statements, whether due to fraud or error.

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

Meaning of Internal Financial Controls with Reference to Standalone Financial Statements

6. A company?s internal financial controls with reference to standalone financial statements is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of standalone financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company?s internal financial controls with reference to standalone financial statements include 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 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 authorisations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorised acquisition, use, or disposition of the company?s assets that could have a material effect on the standalone financial statements.

Inherent Limitations of Internal Financial Controls with Reference to Standalone Financial Statements

7. Because of the inherent limitations of internal financial controls with reference to 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 standalone financial statements to future periods are subject to the risk that the internal financial controls with reference to standalone financial statements may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Opinion

8. In our opinion, the Company has, in all material respects, adequate internal financial controls with reference to standalone financial statements and such controls were operating effectively as at 31 March 2025, based on the internal financial controls with reference to 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.

For Walker Chandiok & Co LLP

Chartered Accountants

Firm?s Registration No.: 001076N/N500013

Adi P. Sethna

Partner

Membership No.: 108840

UDIN: 25108840BMNTWW2886

Place: Mumbai

Date: 15 May 2025