1. We were engaged to audit the accompanying standalone financial statements of Asian Hotels(West) Limited ('the Company'), which comprise the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2024, theStatement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), the Statement of CashFlow and the Statement of Changes in Equity for the year then ended, and notes to thestandalone financial statements, including a summary of the significant accounting policiesand other explanatory information (hereinafter referred to as the "standalone financialstatements").
2. We do not express an opinion on the accompanying standalone financial statements of theCompany. Because of the significance of the matters described in the Basis for Disclaimer ofOpinion section of our report, we have not been able to obtain sufficient appropriate auditevidence to provide a basis for an audit opinion on these standalone financial statements.
Basis for Disclaimer of Opinion
3. We draw attention to Note 48 of the standalone financial statements, wherein, we encounteredsignificant limitations in obtaining and auditing the complete financial information and itssupporting financial documents/records of the Company for the year ended March 31, 2024.Similar limitation existed in respect of the books of account for the immediately precedingfinancial year ended March 31, 2023 and we had expressed a disclaimer of opinion on thefinancial statements for such year-end vide our audit report dated October 07, 2024. Suchlimitation has not been resolved as on the date of this audit report. These limitations havesignificantly restricted our ability to perform the necessary audit procedures to verify thefinancial information, its classification, presentation and disclosures in the standalonefinancial statements. Consequently, we are not able to confirm the accuracy, completeness,and validity of the financial transactions and balances recorded in these standalone financialstatements as well as the presentation and disclosures in these standalone financial statements.As a result of these restrictions, we are unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidenceto provide a basis for an audit opinion.
4. We draw attention to Note 49 in the standalone financial statements, wherein, theManagement has stated that they are uncertain if all relevant subsequent events since thebalance sheet date have been duly considered in the preparation of these standalone financialstatements as per Ind AS 10 "Events after the reporting period" for the reasons stated therein.Since adequate information such as subsequent period books of account, board minutes etc.have not been provided to us, we are unable to comment on the impact of the non¬consideration of the subsequent events, if any, on these standalone financial statements.
5. We were appointed as auditors of the Company on February 14, 2024. However, we were notbeen invited to participate in the physical verification, if any, of the inventory carried out bythe Company as at March 31, 2024. Further, since the management could not provide us withsupporting records relating to inventories to enable us to perform alternate audit procedures,we are unable to comment on the existence of inventory of Rs. 169.80 lakhs as at March 31,2024.
6. The Company has neither maintained proper records showing full particulars includingquantitative details and situation of property, plant and equipment nor provided us with thephysical verification report of property, plant and equipment. Further, the Company has notprovided us with the title deeds of the immovable properties (other than properties where theCompany is the lessee and the lease agreements are duly executed in favour of the lessee) forverification. Therefore, we are unable to comment on the existence of the property, plant andequipment balance of Rs. 20,433.85 lakhs as stated in the accompanying standalone financialstatements. Further, the management has not carried out an impairment assessment in respectof the carrying value of the Company's property, plant and equipment. Therefore, we areunable to comment on the carrying value of the Company's property, plant and equipment inthe absence of the impairment assessment.
7. During the year, the Company has recognized an interest expense of Rs. 2,200 lakhs andInterest Income of Rs. 345.81 lakhs pertaining to Novak Hotels Private Limited. We have notbeen provided with the necessary information in respect of the same. Therefore, we are unableto comment on their recognition in the statement of profit and loss.
Emphasis of Matter
8. We draw attention to Note 47 in the standalone financial statements, which states regardingthe initiation of Corporate Insolvency Resolution Proceedings (CIRP) and the subsequentresolution of the same in January 2024. Consequent to such resolution, these financialstatements have been prepared by the management on a going concern basis.
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'sBoard of Directors. The Company's Board of Directors are responsible for the matters statedin section 134(5) of the Act with respect to the preparation and presentation of thesestandalone financial statements that give a true and fair view of the financial position, financialperformance including other comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows of theCompany in accordance with the Ind AS specified under section 133 of the Act and otheraccounting principles generally accepted in India. This responsibility also includesmaintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act forsafeguarding of the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting frauds and otherirregularities; selection and application of appropriate accounting policies; making judgmentsand estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and design, implementation and maintenanceof adequate internal financial controls, that were operating effectively for ensuring theaccuracy and completeness of the accounting records, relevant to the preparation andpresentation of the standalone financial statements that give a true and fair view and are freefrom material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
10. In preparing the standalone financial statements, the Board of Directors are responsible forassessing 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 theBoard of Directors either intend to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or has norealistic alternative but to do so.
11. Those Board of Directors are also responsible for overseeing the Company's financialreporting process.
Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements
12. Our responsibility is to conduct an audit of the standalone financial statements in accordancewith Standards on Auditing and to issue an auditor's report. However, because of the mattersdescribed in the Basis for Disclaimer of Opinion section of our report, we were not able toobtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to provide a basis for an audit opinion on thesestandalone financial statements.
We are independent of the Company in accordance with the ethical requirements inaccordance with the requirements of the Code of Ethics issued by ICAI and the ethicalrequirements as prescribed under the laws and regulations applicable to the Company.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
13. As required by the Companies (Auditor's Report) Order, 2020 ('the Order') issued by theCentral Government of India in terms of section 143(11) of the Act, we give in the Annexure I,a statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Companies (Auditor'sReport) Order, 2020('the Order') issued by the Central Government of India in terms of section143(11) of the Act.
14. As required by section 143(3) of the Act based on our audit, we report, to the extent applicable,that:
a) We sought and as described in the Basis for Disclaimer of Opinion paragraph, wereunable to obtain all the information and explanations which to the best of ourknowledge and belief were necessary for the purpose of our audit of the accompanyingstandalone financial statements;
b) Due to the effects of the matter described in the Basis for Disclaimer of Opinion section ofour report, whose financial effects are not quantifiable, we are unable to state whetherproper books of account as required by law have been kept by the Company;
c) Except for the effects of the matter described in the Basis for Disclaimer of Opinion sectionof our report, the accompanying standalone financial statements dealt with by this Reportare in agreement with the books of account, to the extent maintained and provided to usfor the purposes of the audit;
d) Due to the effects of the matter described in the Basis for Disclaimer of Opinion section ofour report, whose financial effects are not quantifiable, we are unable to state whether theaforesaid standalone financial statements comply with with Ind AS specified undersection 133 of the Act.;
e) The matter described in the Basis for Disclaimer of Opinion paragraph above, in ouropinion, may have an adverse effect on the functioning of the Company;
f) In the absence of written representation from all the directors and taken on record by theBoard of Directors, we are unable to comment on disqualification of directors as on March31, 2024 in terms of section 164 (2) of the Act;
g) The reservation relating to the maintenance of accounts and other matters connectedtherewith are as stated in the Basis for Disclaimer of section of our report;
h) With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor's report in accordancewith the requirements of section 197(16) of the Act, as amended:
To the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the Companyhas not paid any managerial remuneration to its directors during the year and accordinglyprovisions of the Section 197 of the Act are not applicable to the Company.
i) With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to standalonefinancial statements of the Company as on March 31, 2024 and the operating effectivenessof such controls, refer to our separate Report in Annexure II wherein we have providedDisclaimer of Opinion; and
j) With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor's Report in accordance withrule 11 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 (as amended), in our opinionand to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us:
i. Due to the effects of the matter described in the Basis for Disclaimer of Opinionsection of our report, we are unable to state whether the Company has disclosed theimpact of pending litigations on its financial position in its standalone financialstatements;
ii. Due to the effects of the matter described in the Basis for Disclaimer of Opinionsection of our report, we are unable to state whether the Company has madeprovision for material foreseeable losses, if any, on long-term contracts includingderivative contracts. as at March 31, 2024;
iii. The Company was required to transfer a sum of Rs. 9.08 lakhs of unpaid/ unclaimeddividends to account of Investor Education and Protection Fund, however, the samehas not been transferred.
iv. (a) The management of the Company has represented that, to the best of its knowledge
and belief, as disclosed in note 46(h)(i) to the standalone financial statements, nofunds have been advanced or loaned or invested (either from borrowed funds orsecurities premium or any other sources or kind of funds) by the Company to or inany person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities ('the intermediaries'), with theunderstanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the intermediaryshall, whether, directly or indirectly lend or invest in other persons or entitiesidentified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Company ('the UltimateBeneficiaries') or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf the UltimateBeneficiaries;
(b) The management of the Company has represented that, to the best of its knowledgeand belief, as disclosed in note 46(h)(ii) to the standalone financial statements, nofunds have been received by the Company from any person(s) or entity(ies),including foreign entities ('the Funding Parties'), with the understanding, whetherrecorded in writing or otherwise, that the Company shall, whether directly orindirectly, lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any mannerwhatsoever by or on behalf of the Funding Party ('Ultimate Beneficiaries') or provideany guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries; and
(c) Due to the effects of the matter described in the Basis for Disclaimer of Opinionparagraph, we are unable to comment on whether the management representationsunder sub-clauses (a) and (b) above contain any material misstatement.
v. The Company has neither declared nor paid any dividend during the year.
vi. The Company has used tally accounting software for maintaining its books of accountfor the financial year 2023-24. The audit trail feature of this software did not operatethroughout the year.
For J. C. Bhalla & Co.
Chartered Accountants
Firm Registration No. 001111N
Akhil Bhalla
Partner
Membership No: 505002
UDIN: 24505002BKBYSW7526
Place: New Delhi
Date : October 07, 2024