We have audited the standalone financial statements of Force MotorsLimited (“the Company”), which comprise the standalone balancesheet as at March 31, 2025, the statement of profit & loss (includingother comprehensive income), standalone statement of changes inequity and the statement of cash flows for the year then ended, notesto the standalone financial statements including material accountingpolicies and other explanatory information (hereinafter referred to as“the standalone financial statements”).
In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to theexplanations given to us, the aforesaid standalone financial statementsgive the information required by the Companies Act, 2013 (“the Act”) inthe manner so required and give a true and fair view in conformity withthe Indian Accounting Standards prescribed under section 133 of the Actread with the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules, 2015, asamended, (“Ind AS”) and other accounting principles generally acceptedin India, of the state of affairs of the Company as at March 31,2025, theprofit and total comprehensive Income, changes in equity and its cashflows for the year ended on that date.
We conducted our audit of the standalone financial statements inaccordance with the Standards on Auditing (SAs) specified under section143(10) of the Act. Our responsibilities under those Standards are furtherdescribed in the Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the standalonefinancial statements section of our report. We are independent of theCompany in accordance with the Code of Ethics issued by the Instituteof Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) together with the ethicalrequirements that are relevant to our audit of the standalone financialstatements under the provisions of the Act and the Rules madethereunder, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities inaccordance with these requirements and the Code of Ethics issued bythe Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. We believe that the auditevidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide abasis for our audit opinion on the standalone financial statements.
Key audit matters are those matters that in our professional judgement,were of most significance in our audit of standalone financial statementsof the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of ouraudit of the standalone financial statements as a whole, and in formingour opinion thereon, we do not provide a separate opinion on thesematters.
Sr. No.
Key Audit Matter
How our audit addressed the key audit matter
1.
Contingent Liability
The Company has duties and taxes litigations that arepending with various tax authorities. Whether a liabilityis recognized or disclosed as a contingent liability in thefinancial statements is inherently judgmental and dependenton assumptions and assessments. We placed specific focuson the judgements in respect to these demands against theCompany. Determining the amount, if any, to be recognized ordisclosed in the financial statements, is inherently subjective.Therefore, it is considered to be a key audit matter.
(Refer Note 31(a) to standalone financial statements)
Our procedures included, but were not limited to, the following:
• Obtained an understanding from the management with respect toprocess and controls followed by the Company for identification andmonitoring of significant developments in relation to the litigations,including completeness thereof.
• Obtained the list of litigations from the management and reviewed theirassessment of the likelihood of outflow of economic resources beingprobable, possible or remote in respect of the litigations.
• Assessed management's discussions held with their legal consultantsand understanding precedents in similar cases;
• Our own teams of tax experts assessed and validated the adequacyand appropriateness of the disclosures made by the management inthe financial statements.
2.
Intangible assets
Product development costs are incurred on new vehicleplatforms; engines are recognised as intangible assets onlywhen technical feasibility has been established. The costscapitalised during the year include technical know-howexpenses, materials, direct Labour, inspecting and testingcharges, designing and other direct expenses incurred onrespective projects, up to the date the intangible asset iscapitalised. The capitalisation of product development cost isconsidered to be a key audit matter given that the assessmentof the capitalisation criteria set out in Ind AS 38 IntangibleAssets is made at an early stage of product development andthere are inherent challenges with accurately predicting thefuture economic benefit, which must be assessed as probablefor capitalisation to commence.
(Refer note 2{f} and note 5 of the standalone financialstatements)
Our audit approach consisted of evaluation of design and implementation
of controls, and testing the operating effectiveness around initiation of
capitalisation of the product development cost including management's
validation of relevant data elements and benchmarking the assumptions;
The audit procedures included:
• Obtained the list of approved project wise details and verify thecompleteness and accuracy of cost data with respect to varioussystem generated reports.
• Inspected the respective approvals for initiation of capitalisationincluding government approvals (DSIR) where applicable;
• Reviewed the cost allocation for the year and determined that costscapitalised are directly attributable.
• Tested on sample basis costs incurred towards projects i.e. in respectof manpower cost, we verified hours booked on respective projects,hourly rates for respective persons and sample vouchers / invoices fordirectly attributable expenses.
• We reviewed judgments used by the Management for expectedprobable economic benefits and associated expenditures, and theirassessment of feasibility of the projects, including appropriateness ofpast / present useful life applied in calculation of amortization.
• After carrying out above audit procedures, we concluded that relevantcriteria for capitalisation have been met.
INFORMATION OTHER THAN THE STANDALONEFINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND AUDITOR'S REPORTTHEREON
The Company's Management and Board of Directors is responsible forthe preparation of the other information. The other information comprisesthe information included in the annual report but does not include thefinancial statements and the auditor's report thereon. The annual reportis expected to be made available to us after the date of this audit report.
Our opinion on the standalone financial statements does not coverthe other information and we will not express any form of assuranceconclusion thereon. In connection with our audit of the standalonefinancial statements, our responsibility is to read the other informationidentified above when it becomes available and, in doing so, considerwhether the other information is materially inconsistent with thestandalone financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit,or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
When we read the annual report, if we conclude that there is a materialmisstatement therein, we are required to communicate the matterto those charged with governance and take necessary actions, asapplicable under the relevant laws and regulations.
MANAGEMENT AND BOARD OF DIRECTOR'SRESPONSIBILITY FOR THE STANDALONEFINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company's Management and Board of Directors is responsiblefor the matters stated in section 134(5) of the Act with respect to thepreparation of these standalone financial statements that give a true andfair view of the state of affairs, profit / loss and other comprehensiveincome, changes in equity and cash flows of the Company in accordancewith the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including theIndian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) specified under Section 133 of theAct. This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accountingrecords in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding theassets of the Company and for preventing and detecting frauds and otherirregularities; selection and application of appropriate accounting policies;making judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; anddesign, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financialcontrols, that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy andcompleteness of the accounting records, relevant to the preparation andpresentation of the standalone financial statements that give a true andfair view and are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraudor error.
In preparing the standalone financial statements, management and theboard of directors are responsible for assessing the Company's ability tocontinue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related togoing concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unlessmanagement or the Board of directors either intends to liquidate theCompany or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but todo so.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whetherthe standalone financial statements as a whole are free from materialmisstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor'sreport that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level ofassurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordancewith SAs will always detect a material misstatement when it exists.Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered materialif, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected toinfluence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of thesestandalone financial statements.
As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exercise professionaljudgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. Wealso:
• I dentify and assess the risks of material misstatement of thestandalone 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 toprovide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a materialmisstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resultingfrom error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentionalomissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
• Obtain an understanding of internal financial controls relevant tothe audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate inthe circumstances. Under section 143(3)(i) of the Act, we are alsoresponsible for expressing our opinion on whether the Companyhas an adequate internal financial controls system in place and theoperating effectiveness of such controls.
• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and thereasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosuresmade by Management and Board of Directors.
• Conclude on the appropriateness of Management's and Board ofDirectors use of the going concern basis of accounting and, basedon the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertaintyexists related to events or conditions that may cast significantdoubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.If we conclude that material uncertainty exists, we are requiredto draw attention in our auditor's report to the related disclosuresin the standalone financial statements or, if such disclosures areinadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based onthe audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor's report.However, future events or conditions may cause the Company tocease to continue as a going concern.
• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of thestandalone financial statements, including the disclosures,and whether the standalone financial statements represent theunderlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fairpresentation.
Materiality is the magnitude of misstatements in the standalonefinancial statements that, individually or in aggregate, make it probablethat the economic decisions of a reasonably knowledgeable user ofthe standalone financial statements may be influenced. We considerquantitative materiality and qualitative factors in (i) planning the scopeof our audit work and in evaluating the results of our work; and (ii) toevaluate the effect of any identified misstatements in the standalonefinancial statements.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, amongother matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significantaudit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control thatwe identify during our audit.
We also provide those charged with governance with a statementthat we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regardingindependence, and to communicate with them all relationships and othermatters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence,and where applicable, related safeguards.
From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, wedetermine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of thestandalone financial statements of the current period and are thereforethe key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor's reportunless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter orwhen, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter shouldnot be communicated in our report because the adverse consequencesof doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interestbenefits of such communication.
1. As required by the Companies (Auditor's Report) Order, 2020 (“theOrder”) issued by the Central Government of India in terms ofSection 143(11) of the Act, we give in the “Annexure A” a statementon the matters specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Order, to theextent applicable.
2. A. As required by Section 143(3) of the Act, based on our audit
we report that:
a) We have sought and obtained all the information andexplanations which to the best of our knowledge andbelief were necessary for the purposes of our audit.
b) I n our opinion, proper books of account as requiredby law have been kept by the Company so far as itappears from our examination of those books.
c) The standalone balance sheet, the standalonestatement of profit and loss (including othercomprehensive income), the standalone statementof changes in equity and the standalone statement ofcash flow dealt with by this Report are in agreementwith the relevant books of account.
d) In our opinion, the aforesaid standalone financialstatements comply with the Ind AS specified underSection 133 of the Act.
e) On the basis of the written representations receivedfrom the directors for the year ended March 31,2025taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of thedirectors is disqualified as on March 31,2025 frombeing appointed as a director in terms of Section 164(2) of the Act.
f) With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial
controls with reference to Standalone Financial
Statements of the Company and the operatingeffectiveness of such controls, refer to our separateReport in “Annexure B”. Our report expresses anunmodified opinion on the adequacy and operatingeffectiveness of the Company's internal financialcontrols with reference to Standalone Financial
Statements.
B. With respect to the other matters to be included in theAuditor's Report in accordance with Rule 11 of theCompanies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014, as amended inour opinion and to the best of our information and accordingto the explanations given to us:
i. The standalone financial statements disclose theimpact of pending litigations on the financial positionof the company- Refer Note 31(a) to the standalonefinancial statements
ii. The Company did not have any long-term contracts,including derivative contracts for which there were anymaterial foreseeable losses.
iii. There has been no delay in transferring the amountsrequired to be transferred, to the Investor Educationand Protection Fund by the Company - Refer Note 42to standalone financial statements.
iv. With respect to clause (e) of Rule 11 of the Companies(Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014, as amended
a. The management has represented to us that, tothe best of its knowledge and belief, no funds
have been advanced or loaned or invested (eitherfrom borrowed funds or share premium or anyother sources or kind of funds) by the companyto or in any other person(s) or entity(ies),including foreign entities (“Intermediaries”),with the understanding, whether recordedin writing or otherwise, that the Intermediaryshall, whether, directly or indirectly lend orinvest in other persons or entities identified inany manner whatsoever by or on behalf of thecompany (“Ultimate Beneficiaries”) or provideany guarantee, security or the like on behalf ofthe Ultimate Beneficiaries.
b. The management of the Company hasrepresented, that, to the best of its knowledgeand belief, no funds have been received bythe company from any person(s) or entity(ies),including foreign entities (“Funding Parties”),with the understanding, whether recorded inwriting or otherwise, that the company shall,whether, directly or indirectly, lend or invest inother persons or entities identified in any mannerwhatsoever by or on behalf of the FundingParty (“Ultimate Beneficiaries”) or provide anyguarantee, security or the like on behalf of theUltimate Beneficiaries.
c. Based on such audit procedures performed thatwe have considered reasonable and appropriatein the circumstances, nothing has come to ournotice that has caused us to believe that therepresentations under sub-clause (i) and (ii) ofRule 11(e) as provided under (a) and (b) abovecontain any material misstatement.
v. The final dividend paid by the Company during theyear in respect to the previous year is in accordancewith section 123 of the Companies Act 2013 to theextent it applies to payment of dividend.
As stated in note 45 to the standalone financialstatements, the Board of Directors of the Companyhave proposed a final dividend for the year which issubject to the approval of the members at the ensuingAnnual General Meeting. The dividend declared is inaccordance with section 123 of the Act to the extent itapplies to declaration of dividend.
vi. With respect to clause (g) of Rule 11 of the Companies(Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014, as amended, therequirement under proviso to Rule 3(1) of Companies(Accounts) Rules, 2014 of mandatory audit trail inthe Company accounting software, based on our
examination which included test checks, the companyhas used an accounting software for maintaining itsbooks of account which has a feature of recordingaudit trail (edit log) facility and the same has operatedthroughout the year for all relevant transactionsrecorded in the software. Further, during our audit wedid not come across any instance of audit trail featurebeing tampered with. Additionally, the audit trail hasbeen preserved by the Company as per the statutoryrequirements for record retention.
3. With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor'sReport in accordance with the requirements of section 197(16) ofthe Act, as amended:
I n our opinion and to the best of our information and accordingto the explanations given to us, the remuneration paid by the
Company to its directors during the current year is in accordancewith the provisions of section 197 of the Act.
The remuneration paid to any director by the Company is not inexcess of the limit laid down under Section 197 of the Act. TheMinistry of Corporate Affairs has not prescribed other details underSection 197(16) of the Act which are required to be commentedupon by us.
For Kirtane & Pandit LLP
Chartered AccountantsFirm Registration No.105215W/W100057
Parag Pansare
Partner
Membership No.: 117309Pune, April 25 ,2025 UDIN: 25117309BMJDGW4172