We have audited the accompanying financial statements ofAndhra Paper Limited (“the Company”), which comprise theBalance Sheet as at March 31, 2025, and the Statementof Profit and Loss, including Other Comprehensive Income,Statement of Changes in Equity and Statement of CashFlows for the year then ended, and notes to the financialstatements, including material accounting policy informationand other explanatory information (hereinafter referred toas the “financial statements”).
In our opinion and to the best of our information andaccording to the explanations given to us, the aforesaidfinancial statements give the information required by theCompanies Act, 2013 (“the Act”) in the manner so requiredand give a true and fair view in conformity with the IndianAccounting Standards prescribed under section 133 of theAct read with Companies (Indian Accounting Standards)Rules, 2015, as amended (“Ind AS”) and other accountingprinciples generally accepted in India, of the state of affairsof the Company as at March 31, 2025, and profit, totalcomprehensive income, changes in equity and its cashflows for the year ended on that date.
We conducted our audit of the financial statements inaccordance with the Standards on Auditing (SAs) specifiedunder section 143(10) of the Act. Our responsibilities underthose Standards are further described in the 'Auditor'sResponsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements'section of our report. We are independent of the Companyin accordance with the Code of Ethics issued by the Instituteof Chartered Accountants of India (“ICAI”) together with theethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of thefinancial statements under the provisions of the Act and theRules thereunder, and we have fulfilled our other ethicalresponsibilities in accordance with these requirementsand the Code of Ethics. We believe that the audit evidenceobtained by us is sufficient and appropriate to provide abasis for our opinion.
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professionaljudgment, were of most significance in our audit of the
financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2025.These matters were addressed in the context of our auditof the financial statements as a whole, and in forming ouropinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion onthese matters. We have determined the matters describedbelow to be the key audit matters to be communicatedin our report.
Recognition, Measurement and Presentation ofprovisions and contingent liabilities (Refer Note 2C (e),21, 22 and 32A in the financial statements for the relateddisclosures):
The Company has ongoing litigations with variousregulatory authorities and third parties. Where an outflowof funds is believed to be probable and a reliable estimateof the outcome of the dispute can be made based onmanagement's assessment of specific circumstances ofeach dispute and relevant external advice, managementprovides for its reliable estimate of the liability. Suchaccruals are by nature complex and can take number ofyears to resolve and can involve estimation uncertainty.
Given the complexity and magnitude of potential exposuresto the Company, the assessment of the existence of legal orconstructive obligation and analysis of the probability of therelated outflow of resources involves significant judgementby the management.
How the Key Audit Matter was addressed in our audit: Ouraudit procedures in respect of this area included:
• Obtained a detailed understanding of the managementsprocess for determining statutory liabilities, provisionsand contingent liabilities pertaining to claims or disputes.
• Verified the design and operating effectiveness of theCompany's key controls over the estimation, monitoringand disclosure of provisions and contingent liabilities.
• Made corroborative inquiries with appropriate level ofthe management personnel including status update,expectation of outcomes with the basis, and the futurecourse of action contemplated by the Company.
• Obtained the understanding of the matters involvedby reading the correspondences, communications,minutes of the Audit Committee and/or the Boardmeetings and discussions with the appropriateManagement personnel.
• Obtained direct confirmation letters from external legalexperts and reviewed them to assess the likelihood ofoutcome, for the purposes of provisioning.
• Evaluated the evidence supporting the judgement ofthe management about possible outcomes and thereasonableness of the assumptions and estimates,used in measuring the probable or possible impact.
• Evaluated appropriateness and adequacy of thedisclosures of the contingent liability made inthe financial statements in accordance with therequirements of Ind AS 37 - 'Provisions, ContingentLiabilities and Contingent Asset'.
The Company's Board of Directors is responsible for theother information. The other information comprises theManagement report, Chairman's statement, Director'sreport, Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reportingetc. (hereinafter referred to as the “other information”) butdoes not include the financial statements and our auditor'sreport thereon. The other information is expected to bemade available to us after the date of this auditor's report.
Our opinion on the financial statements does not coverthe other information and we will not express any form ofassurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements,our responsibility is to read the other information identifiedabove when it becomes available and, in doing so, considerwhether the other information is materially inconsistent withthe financial statements or our knowledge obtained in theaudit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
When we read the other information, if we conclude thatthere is a material misstatement therein, we are required tocommunicate the matter to those charged with governanceunder SA 720 'The Auditor's responsibilities Relating toOther Information'
The Company's Board of Directors is responsible for thematters stated in section 134(5) of the Act with respectto the preparation of these financial statements that givea true and fair view of the financial position, financialperformance, changes in equity and cash flows of theCompany in accordance with the accounting principlesgenerally accepted in India, including the AccountingStandards specified under section 133 of the Act. Thisresponsibility also includes maintenance of adequateaccounting records in accordance with the provisions of
the Act for safeguarding of the assets of the Company andfor preventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities;selection and application of appropriate accounting policies;making judgments and estimates that are reasonable andprudent; and design, implementation and maintenance ofadequate internal financial controls, that were operatingeffectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness ofthe accounting records, relevant to the preparation andpresentation of the financial statement that give a true andfair view and are free from material misstatement, whetherdue to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the Managementand Board of Directors are responsible for assessingthe Company's ability to continue as a going concern,disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concernand using the going concern basis of accounting unless theBoard of Directors either intends to liquidate the Companyor to cease operations, or has no realistic alternativebut to do so.
The Board of Directors are also responsible for overseeingthe Company's financial reporting process.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance aboutwhether the financial statements as a whole are free frommaterial 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, butis not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordancewith SAs will always detect a material misstatement whenit exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error andare considered material if, individually or in the aggregate,they could reasonably be expected to influence theeconomic decisions of users taken on the basis of thesefinancial statements.
We give in “Annexure A” a detailed description of Auditor'sresponsibilities for Audit of the Financial Statements.
1. As required by the Companies (Auditor's Report) Order,2020 (“the Order”), issued by the Central Governmentof India in terms of sub-section (11) of section 143 ofthe Act, we give in “Annexure B” a statement on thematters specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Order,to the extent applicable.
2. As required by Section 143(3) of the Act, we report that:
(a) We have sought and obtained all the informationand explanations which to the best of our
knowledge and belief were necessary for thepurposes of our audit.
(b) In our opinion, proper books of account as requiredby law have been kept by the Company so far asit appears from our examination of those books,except for the matter stated in the paragraph 2(h)(vi) below on reporting under Rule 11(g).
(c) The Balance Sheet, the Statement of Profit andLoss including other comprehensive income,the Statement of Changes in Equity and theStatement of Cash Flow dealt with by this Reportare in agreement with the books of account.
(d) In our opinion, the aforesaid financial statementscomply with the Accounting Standards specifiedunder Section 133 of the Act.
(e) On the basis of the written representationsreceived from the directors as on March 31,2025taken on record by the Board of Directors, noneof the directors are disqualified as on March 31,2025 from being appointed as a director in termsof Section 164 (2) of the Act.
(f) With respect to the adequacy of the internalfinancial controls with reference to financialstatements of the Company and the operatingeffectiveness of such controls, refer to ourseparate Report in “Annexure C”.
(g) The reservation relating to the maintenance ofaccounts and other matters connected therewithare as stated in paragraph 2(b) above on reportingunder Section 143(3)(b) and paragraph 2(h)(vi)below on reporting under Rule 11(g).
(h) With respect to the other matters to be included inthe Auditor's Report in accordance with Rule 11 ofthe Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014,in our opinion and to the best of our informationand according to the explanations given to us:
i. The Company has disclosed the impact ofpending litigations on its financial position inits financial statements - Refer Note 32 tothe financial statements;
ii. The Company did not have any long-termcontracts including derivative contractsfor which there were any materialforeseeable losses.
iii. There were no amounts which were requiredto be transferred to the Investor Educationand Protection Fund by the Company.
iv. (a) The Management has represented
that, to the best of its knowledge andbelief, no funds have been advancedor loaned or invested (either fromborrowed funds or share premium orany other sources or kind of funds)by the Company to or in any otherperson(s) or entity(ies), includingforeign entities (“Intermediaries”), withthe understanding, whether recordedin writing or otherwise, that theIntermediary shall, directly or indirectlylend or invest in other persons or entitiesidentified in any manner whatsoeverby or on behalf of the Company(“Ultimate Beneficiaries”) or provideany guarantee, security or the like onbehalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries.
(b) The Management has represented,that, to the best of its knowledge andbelief, no funds have been receivedby the Company from any person(s)or entity(ies), including foreignentities (Funding Parties), with theunderstanding, whether recorded inwriting or otherwise, as on the dateof this audit report, that the Companyshall, directly or indirectly, lend orinvest in other persons or entitiesidentified in any manner whatsoeverby or on behalf of the Funding Party(“Ultimate Beneficiaries”) or provideany guarantee, security or the like onbehalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries.
(c) Based on the audit proceduresperformed that have been consideredreasonable and appropriate in thecircumstances, and according to theinformation and explanations providedto us by the Management in this regardnothing has come to our notice thathas caused us to believe that therepresentations under sub-clause (i)and (ii) of Rule 11(e) as provided under(b) and (c) above, contain any materialmis-statement.
v. The final dividend paid by the Company duringthe year in respect of the same declaredfor the previous year is in accordance withsection 123 of the Companies Act 2013 tothe extent it applies to payment of dividend.
The Board of Directors of the Company haveproposed final dividend for the year which issubject to the approval of the members atthe ensuing Annual General Meeting. Thedividend declared is in accordance withsection 123 of the Act to the extent it appliesto declaration of dividend. (Refer Note 15 tothe financial statements)
vi. Based on our examination which includedtest checks, the Company has used anaccounting software for maintaining itsbooks of account, which has a feature ofrecording audit trail (edit log) facility exceptthat the audit trail feature at the applicationlevel was enabled from June 16, 2024 andwas not enabled at the database level to logany direct data changes for the entire year.
Further, where enabled, audit trail featurehas operated throughout the period forall relevant transactions recorded in theaccounting software. Also, during thecourse of our audit, we did not comeacross any instance of audit trail featurebeing tampered with in respect of suchaccounting software. Additionally, the audittrail has been preserved by the Companyas per the statutory requirements for recordretention to the extent it was enabled andrecorded in year.
3. In our opinion, according to information, explanationsgiven to us, the remuneration paid by the Company toits directors is within the limits laid prescribed underSection 197 read with Schedule V of the Act and therules thereunder.
For M S K A & AssociatesChartered Accountants
ICAI Firm Registration No. 105047W
Prakash Chandra Bhutada
Partner
Place: Hyderabad Membership No. 404621
Date: May 08, 2025 UDIN:25404621BMOJEF9286