We have audited the accompanying standalone financial statements of THE LAKSHMI MILLS COMPANY LIMITED (“theCompany”), which comprise the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2025, the Statement of Profit and Loss (includingOther Comprehensive Income), the Statement of Changes in Equity and the Cash Flow Statement and for the yearthen ended and notes to the financial statements including a summary of the material accounting policies andother accounting policies and other explanatory information (hereinafter referred to as the ‘standalone financialstatements’).
In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the aforesaidstandalone financial statements give the information required by the Companies Act, 2013 [“the Act”], in themanner so required and give a true and fair view in conformity with the Indian Accounting Standards prescribedunder Section 133 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules 2015,as amended (“Ind AS”) and other accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of theCompany as at March 31, 2025, its LOSS and total comprehensive income, changes in equity and its cash flowsfor the year ended on that date.
Basis for Opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with the Standards on Auditing (SAs) specified under section 143(10)of the Companies Act, 2013. Our responsibilities under those Standards are further described in the Auditor’sResponsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements section of our report.
We are independent of the Company in accordance with the Code of Ethics issued by the Institute of CharteredAccountants of India together with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financialstatements under the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 and the Rules thereunder, and we have fulfilled ourother ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements and the Code of Ethics. We believe that theaudit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion on the standalonefinancial statements.
Key Audit Matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our auditof the standalone financial statements of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context ofour audit of the standalone financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do notprovide a separate opinion on these matters. We have determined the matters described below to be the keyaudit matters to be communicated in our report. We have fulfilled the responsibilities described in the Auditor’sresponsibilities for the audit of the Standalone financial statements section of our report, including in relation tothese matters.
S. No.
Key Audit Matter
How our audit addressed the Key Audit Matter
1
Evaluation of uncertain tax positions
(Refer Note No. 30 to the standalone financialstatements).
The Company has uncertain tax positions of '899.74 Lakhs including matters under disputewhich involves significant judgment to determinethe possible outcome of these disputes as on thebalance sheet date.
The Company assesses the need to make aprovision or disclose a contingency on a case-to-case basis considering the underlying facts of eachmatter, in consultation with its legal advisors. Thisinvolves a high level of management judgmentand assumptions which impact the risk assessmentand consequential provisioning and disclosure ofcontingencies in the financial statements. This areais significant to our audit, since the completenessand accuracy of accounting and disclosures forcontingencies is dependent on such managementjudgment and assumptions.
Principal Audit Procedures
We obtained details of the completed taxassessments and demands and the statutoryappeals preferred by the Company beforeappropriate appellate forums.
We evaluated and tested the Company’s processesand controls for monitoring of litigations,disputes, compliances and assessment thereoffor determining the likely outcome of disputes.
We reviewed the summary of the litigationsobtained from the management and discussedthe material cases to determine the Company’sassessment of the likelihood and magnitude ofany liability that may arise.
We analysed the management’s underlyingassumptions and grounds in estimating thetax provision and the possible outcome of thedisputes at appellate forums.
We considered legal precedents, other rulingsand legal opinions obtained by the managementin evaluating the management’s judgments andassumptions on these uncertain tax positions.Additionally, we considered the effect of newinformation, if any, in respect of materialuncertain tax positions and other uncertainposition of the tax dues under dispute, toevaluate whether any change was required tomanagement’s position on these uncertainties.
We tested the adequacy of disclosures in thefinancial statements. We also obtained necessaryrepresentations from the management in regardto the provisioning and disclosures in respect ofthe litigations.
2
Recoverability of income tax assets andReceivables from Government authorities
(Refer Note 8 & 6A to the standalone financialstatements)
As at March 31, 2025 non-current assets in respectof Income tax assets to the extent of ' 106.23 lakhs(Net of provisions), current tax assets to the extentof ' 292.06 Lakhs (Net of provisions) and balanceswith revenue authorities to the extent of ' 4.86Lakhs are outstanding.
This area is significant to our audit, since thecompleteness and accuracy of accounting anddisclosures for determining the recoverability ofthese items.
We analysed and reviewed the nature of theamounts recoverable, the sustainability and thelikelihood of recoverability upon final resolution.
The income tax assets represents tax deductedat source, the taxes paid in advance and taxespaid towards disputed dues.
The balances with revenue authorities representinput tax credits eligible for set off. Weconsidered legal precedents, other rulings andlegal opinions obtained by the management andthe management’s representations in this regard,in evaluating the management’s judgments andassumptions on the recoverability / set off ofthese balances with revenue authorities.
3
Trade receivables and expected credit loss:
(Refer Note 10 to the standalone financialstatements).
The trade receivables as at March 31, 2025 is' 2353.95 Lakhs and provision for expected creditloss of ' 269.59 Lakhs.
The provision for the expected credit losses involvescertain judgment with respect to the assessment ofprobabilities of default and recovery.
We have considered assessment of expected creditloss for receivables as a key audit matter becauseof the significant management judgement involvedin its estimation and provision.
Principal Audit procedures
We assessed the appropriateness of theaccounting policy for expected credit loss as perthe relevant accounting standards.
We obtained an understanding of and assessedthe design, implementation and operatingeffectiveness of key controls relating to collectionmonitoring process, credit control process andestimation of expected credit losses.
We tested the controls relating to classificationof the receivable balances included in thereceivables ageing report.
We reviewed the ageing, tested the validity ofthe receivables, discussed with the managementon the disputes, if any, with the customers,understood and evaluated the reason for delayin realization of the receivables and possibility ofrealization of the aged receivable.
We assessed the methodology used bymanagement to estimate the expected credit lossprovision and its compliance with the relevantaccounting standard.
We assessed the reasonableness of estimate ofexpected credit loss and performed proceduresrelating to the accuracy of the inputs used.
We assessed the adequacy of disclosures relatingto trade receivables and related credit risk.
4
Assessment of carrying value of Investments
[Refer Statement of Changes to Equity and NoteNo.5 to the standalone financial statements]
The Company has invested in equity instrumentsthat are stated at fair values through OCI and thecumulative fair value changes through OCI (net ofdeferred taxes) is ' 76,423.57 Lakhs as on March31, 2025. In line with general market fluctuations,there are significant fair value changes in theseinvestments. The evaluation of their fair values isconsidered as a key audit matter given the relativesignificance of the value of investments and thefluctuations in their fair values.
Our audit procedures in relation to assessingthe carrying value of these investments includeascertaining from relevant appropriate externalsources that the equity instruments are carriedat fair value as on 31st March 2025.
5
Assessing the recoverability of the carrying valueof Investment property including investmentproperties under construction
[Refer Note No.4 to the standalone financialstatements]
As at 31st March 2025, the carrying value of theInvestment Property is ' 17,882.81 Lakhs andcarrying value of Investment Property underconstruction is ' 108.64 Lakhs. The Companyreviews on an annual basis such carrying values forany indicators of impairment to ensure that theInvestment Properties are not carried at more thantheir recoverable amount.
We considered the assessment of the carrying valueof Investment Property as a key audit matter dueto the significance of the balance and significantestimates and judgments involved in the impairmentassessment and disclosure of fair values.
Our audit procedures included, among otherthings the following:
We assessed the Company’s valuationmethodology and assumptions based on currenteconomic and market conditions in determiningthe recoverable amount.
We obtained and read the valuation report usedby the Company’s management for determiningthe fair value (‘recoverable amount’) of theinvestment property.
We considered the independence, competenceand objectivity of the external specialistinvolved by the management in determination ofvaluation.
We assessed the Company’s valuation methodologyapplied and compared key property related dataused as input with historical actual data.
We assessed the key assumptions used inCompany’s valuation methodology.
We compared the recoverable amount of theinvestment property to the carrying value inbooks.
We assessed the disclosures made in the financialstatements in this regard.
We have determined that there are no other key audit matters to communicate in our report.
information Other than the standalone Financial Statements and Auditor’s Report Thereon
The Company’s Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation of the other information. The otherinformation comprises the information included in the Management Discussion and Analysis, Board’s Reportincluding Annexures to Board’s Report, Report on Corporate Governance and Shareholder’s Information, but doesnot include the standalone financial statements and our report thereon.
Our opinion on the standalone financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not expressany form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the standalone financial statements, our responsibility is to read the otherinformation and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with thestandalone financial statements or our knowledge obtained during the course of our audit or otherwise appearsto be materially misstated.
If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this otherinformation, 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
The Company’s Board of Directors is responsible for the matters stated in Section 134 (5) of the Companies Act,2013 (“the Act”) with respect to the preparation of these standalone financial statements that give a true andfair view of the financial position, financial performance (including Other Comprehensive Income), Changes inEquity of the Company and its cash flows in accordance with the Indian Accounting Standards (IND AS) prescribedunder section 133 of the Act read with the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules, 2015, as amended,and other accounting principles generally accepted in India.
This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisionsof the Act for safeguarding the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting frauds and otherirregularities; selection and application of appropriate accounting policies; making judgments and estimatesthat are reasonable and prudent; and design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financialcontrols, 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 viewand are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, management is responsible for assessing the Company’s ability to continueas a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basisof accounting unless management either intends to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or has norealistic alternative but to do so.
The Board of Directors are also responsible for overseeing the company’s financial reporting process.
Auditors’ Responsibility
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the standalone financial statements as a wholeare free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includesour opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conductedin accordance with SAs will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise fromfraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expectedto 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 professionalskepticism throughout the audit. We also:
• Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraudor error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that issufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatementresulting 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 thatare appropriate in the circumstances. Under section 143(3)(i) of the Companies Act, 2013, we are alsoresponsible for expressing our opinion on whether the Company has adequate internal financial controlssystem in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls.
• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates andrelated disclosures made by management.
• Conclude on the appropriateness of management’s use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based onthe audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that maycast significant doubt on the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a materialuncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in thefinancial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are basedon the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditionsmay cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern.
• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures,and whether the standalone financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in amanner that achieves fair presentation.
Materiality is the magnitude of misstatements in the standalone financial statements that, individually or inaggregate, makes it probable that the economic decisions of a reasonably knowledgeable user of the standalonefinancial statements may be influenced. We consider quantitative materiality and qualitative factors in (i)planning the scope of our audit work and in evaluating the results of our work; and (ii) to evaluate the effect ofany identified misstatements in the standalone financial statements.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope andtiming of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that weidentify during our audit.
We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethicalrequirements regarding independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters thatmay 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 ofmost significance in the audit of the standalone financial statements of the current period and are therefore thekey audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor’s report unless law or regulation precludes publicdisclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should notbe communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected tooutweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
1. As required by the Companies (Auditor’s Report) Order, 2020 (“the Order”) issued by the Central Governmentin terms of Section 143 (11) of the Act, we give in Annexure “A” a statement on the matters specified inparagraphs 3 and 4 of the Order, to the extent applicable.
2. 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 and explanations which to the best of our knowledgeand belief were necessary for the purposes of our audit;
b) In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have been kept by the Company so far asappears from our examination of those books;
c) The Balance Sheet, the Statement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), Statementof Changes in Equity and Statement of Cash flows dealt with by this report are in agreement with thebooks of account;
d) In our opinion, the aforesaid standalone financial statements comply with the Indian Accounting Standardsprescribed under section 133 of the Act read with the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules2015;
e) On the basis of the written representations received from the directors of the Company as on March 31,2025 taken on record by the board of directors, none of the directors are disqualified as on March 31,2025 from being appointed as a director in terms of Section 164 (2) of the Act;
f) With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls over financial reporting of the Companyand the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate report in Annexure “B” and
g) With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor’s Report in accordance with therequirements of section 197(16) of the Act, as amended:
In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, theremuneration paid by the Company to its directors during the year is in accordance with the provisionsof section 197 of the Companies Act, 2013. The remuneration paid to any director is not in excess of thelimit laid down under Section 197 of the Act. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has not prescribed otherdetails under Section 197(16) which are required to be commented upon by us.
h) With respect to the other matters to be included in the auditors’ report in accordance with Rule 11of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014, as amended, in our opinion and to the best of ourinformation and according to the explanations given to us:
i. The Company has disclosed the impact of pending litigations on its financial position in its standalonefinancial statements - Refer Note No. 30 to the standalone financial statements.
ii. The Company does not have any long-term contracts including derivative contracts on which provisionfor material foreseeable losses is required to be made under any law or accounting standards;
iii. There has been no delay in transferring amounts, required to be transferred, to the Investor Educationand Protection Fund by the Company.
iv. (a) The Management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, other thanas disclosed in the notes to the accounts, where applicable, no funds (which are material eitherindividually or in the aggregate) have been advanced or loaned or invested (either from borrowedfunds or share premium or any other sources or kind of funds) by the Company to or in any otherperson or entity, including foreign entity (“Intermediaries”), with the understanding, whetherrecorded in writing or otherwise, that the Intermediary shall, whether, directly or indirectly lendor invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of theCompany (“Ultimate Beneficiaries”) or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of theUltimate Beneficiaries;
The Management has represented, that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, other than as disclosed
in the notes to the accounts, where applicable, no funds (which are material either individually orin the aggregate) have been received by the Company from any person or entity, including foreignentity (“Funding Parties”), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, thatthe Company shall, whether, directly or indirectly, lend or invest in other persons or entities identifiedin any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Funding Party (“Ultimate Beneficiaries”) or provideany guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries;
(c) Based on the audit procedures that have been considered reasonable and appropriate in thecircumstances, nothing has come to our notice that has caused us to believe that the representationsunder sub-clause (i) and (ii) of Rule 11(e), as provided under (a) and (b) above, contain any materialmisstatement.
v. The Company has not proposed any dividend for the year nor for the previous year and hence reportingon whether the provisions of section 123 of the Companies Act, 2013 have been complied with, for thedividend proposed for the year or declared during the previous year and paid during the year is notapplicable.
vi. Based on our examination, which included test checks, the Company has used accounting softwarefor maintaining its books of account for the financial year ended March 31, 2025 which has a featureof recording audit trail (edit log) facility and the same has operated throughout the year for allrelevant transactions recorded in the accounting software, except for standalone external softwareused for human resource management which is non-editable at database level. The audit trail hasbeen preserved by the Company as per statutory requirements for record retention. Further, duringthe course of our audit we did not come across any instance of audit trail feature being tamperedwith.
For M/s Subbachar & SrinivasanChartered AccountantsFirm Registration No.004083S(T.S.V.RAJAGOPAL)
Coimbatore Membership No. 200380
28th May, 2025 UDIN:25200380BMHYDI2346