We have audited the standalone financial statements ofOne 97 Communications Limited ("the Company"), whichcomprise the Balance sheet as at March 31, 2025, theStatement of Profit and Loss, including the statement ofOther Comprehensive Income, the Cash Flow Statementand the Statement of Changes in Equity for the year thenended, and notes to the Standalone financial statements,including a summary of material accounting policies andother explanatory information.
In our opinion and to the best of our information andaccording to the explanations given to us, the aforesaidstandalone financial statements give the informationrequired by the Companies Act, 2013, as amended ("theAct") in the manner so required and give a true and fairview in conformity with the accounting principles generallyaccepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Company asat March 31, 2025, its loss including other comprehensiveincome, its cash flows and the changes in equity for theyear ended on that date.
We conducted our audit of the standalone financialstatements in accordance with the Standards on Auditing(SAs), as specified under section 143(10) of the Act.Our responsibilities under those Standards are furtherdescribed in the 'Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit ofthe Standalone Financial Statements' section of our report.We are independent of the Company in accordance withthe 'Code of Ethics' issued by the Institute of CharteredAccountants of India together with the ethical requirementsthat are relevant to our audit of the financial statementsunder the provisions of the Act and the Rules thereunder,and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilitiesin accordance with these requirements and the Codeof Ethics. We believe that the audit evidence we haveobtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis forour audit opinion on the standalone financial statements.
A. We draw attention to Note 42 to the financialstatements, regarding a Show Cause Notice ("SCN")received by the Company and its two subsidiaries,from the Directorate of Enforcement, Government ofIndia alleging contraventions of certain provisions of
the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA)and the rules and regulations framed thereunder.Management's plans in this regard are also set outin the said note.
B. We draw attention to Note 43 to the financialstatements, regarding the Show Cause Notice (SCN)of Rs 57,120 million, received on April 28, 2025, byFirst Games Technology Private Limited (FGTPL), aJoint Venture (JV) of the Company, pertaining to theperiod January 01, 2018 to March 31, 2023, underthe Central Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017. As setout in the note, management of the JV proposes tocontest this demand and is confident of successfullydefending its position against GST authorities.
C. We draw attention to Note 10 (b) and 13 (b) to thefinancial statements, describing the impact of therestatement of previous year cash balances held inescrow account which were previously disclosedas net with merchant liabilities under other financialliabilities instead of being presented under bankbalances other than cash and cash equivalents.
Our opinion is not modified in respect of any ofthe above matter.
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professionaljudgment, were of most significance in our audit of thestandalone financial statements for the financial year endedMarch 31, 2025. These matters were addressed in thecontext of our audit of the standalone financial statementsas a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we donot provide a separate opinion on these matters. For eachmatter below, our description of how our audit addressedthe matter is provided in that context.
We have determined the matters described below to bethe key audit matters to be communicated in our report.We have fulfilled the responsibilities described in theAuditor's responsibilities for the audit of the standalonefinancial statements section of our report, including inrelation to these matters. Accordingly, our audit includedthe performance of procedures designed to respond to ourassessment of the risks of material misstatement of thestandalone financial statements. The results of our auditprocedures, including the procedures performed to addressthe matters below, provide the basis for our audit opinionon the accompanying standalone financial statements.
Key audit matters
How our audit addressed the key audit matter
Assessment of recoverable value of investment in subsidiaries and other associates (Refer accompanying notes 5 and6 to the Standalone Financial Statements)
The Company has investments in various subsidiariesand other associates. Where an indication of impairmentexists, the carrying value of an investment is assessedfor impairment as per Ind AS 36 and where applicable animpairment loss is recognized.
The determination of recoverable value for impairmentassessment involves significant management judgement/estimates including the following key estimates:
i) Forecast of cash flows
ii) Discount rates
iii) Terminal growth rate
iv) Revenue market multiple
Considering the inherent complexities and significantjudgements involved, the assessment of above impairmentwas considered as a key audit matter.
Our procedures included the following:
• We evaluated the Company's assessment foridentification of indicators of impairment.
• We obtained an understanding from the management,assessed and tested the design and operatingeffectiveness of the Company's key controls over theimpairment assessment including determination ofrecoverable value
• We evaluated the Company's impairment model. Thisincluded assessing various assumptions used in theimpairment model related to cash flows, discount rate,terminal value/ revenue market multiple, etc. usedfor material investments with assistance of valuationspecialist wherever considered necessary.
• We agreed relevant data with the latest budgets,actual past results and other supporting documentsand checked the mathematical accuracy of theimpairment model.
• We performed procedures including sensitivity analysisand evaluated whether any reasonably foreseeablechange in assumptions could lead to impairment ormaterial change in the carrying value.
• We assessed adequacy of relevant disclosures as perapplicable accounting standards.
We have determined that there are no other key auditmatters to communicate in our report.
The Company's Board of Directors is responsible for theother information. The other information comprises theinformation included in the Annual report, but does notinclude the standalone financial statements and ourauditor's report thereon.
Our opinion on the standalone financial statements doesnot cover the other information and we do not express anyform of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the standalone financialstatements, our responsibility is to read the otherinformation and, in doing so, consider whether such otherinformation is materially inconsistent with the financialstatements or our knowledge obtained in the audit orotherwise appears to be materially misstated.
The Annual report is not made available to us as at thedate of this auditor's report. We have nothing to reportin this regard.
The Company's Board of Directors is responsible for thematters stated in section 134(5) of the Act with respect tothe preparation of these standalone financial statements thatgive a true and fair view of the financial position, financialperformance including other comprehensive income, cash flowsand changes in equity of the Company in accordance with theaccounting principles generally accepted in India, including theIndian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) specified under section133 of the Act read with the Companies (Indian AccountingStandards) Rules, 2015, as amended. This responsibility alsoincludes maintenance of adequate accounting records inaccordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding ofthe assets of the Company and for preventing and detectingfrauds and other irregularities; selection and applicationof appropriate accounting policies; making judgments andestimates that are reasonable and prudent; and the design,implementation and maintenance of adequate internalfinancial controls, that were operating effectively for ensuringthe accuracy and completeness of the accounting records,relevant to the preparation and presentation of the standalonefinancial statements that give a true and fair view and are freefrom material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the standalone financial statements,management is responsible for assessing the Company'sability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, asapplicable, matters related to going concern and using thegoing concern basis of accounting unless managementeither intends to liquidate the Company or to ceaseoperations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
Those Board of Directors are also responsible foroverseeing the Company's financial reporting process.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance aboutwhether the standalone financial statements as a wholeare free from material misstatement, whether due to fraudor error, and to issue an auditor's report that includesour opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level ofassurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conductedin accordance with SAs will always detect a materialmisstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise fromfraud or error and are considered material if, individuallyor in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expectedto influence the economic decisions of users taken on thebasis of these standalone financial statements.
As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exerciseprofessional judgment and maintain professionalskepticism throughout the audit. We also:
• Identify and assess the risks of material misstatementof the standalone financial statements, whether dueto fraud or error, design and perform audit proceduresresponsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidencethat is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basisfor our opinion. The risk of not detecting a materialmisstatement resulting from fraud is higher than forone resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion,forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, orthe override of internal control.
• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevantto the audit in order to design audit procedures thatare appropriate in the circumstances. Under section143(3)(i) of the Act, we are also responsible forexpressing our opinion on whether the Company hasadequate internal financial controls with referenceto financial statements in place and the operatingeffectiveness of such controls.
• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policiesused and the reasonableness of accounting estimatesand related disclosures made by management.
• Conclude on the appropriateness of management's useof the going concern basis of accounting and, basedon the audit evidence obtained, whether a materialuncertainty exists related to events or conditionsthat may cast significant doubt on the Company'sability to continue as a going concern. If we concludethat a material uncertainty exists, we are required todraw attention in our auditor's report to the relateddisclosures in the financial statements or, if suchdisclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Ourconclusions are based on the audit evidence obtainedup to the date of our auditor's report. However, futureevents or conditions may cause the Company to ceaseto continue as a going concern.
• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and contentof the standalone financial statements, including thedisclosures, and whether the standalone financialstatements represent the underlying transactions andevents in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
We communicate with those charged with governanceregarding, among other matters, the planned scope andtiming of the audit and significant audit findings, includingany significant deficiencies in internal control that weidentify during our audit.
We also provide those charged with governance with astatement that we have complied with relevant ethicalrequirements regarding independence, and to communicatewith them all relationships and other matters that mayreasonably be thought to bear on our independence, andwhere applicable, related safeguards.
From the matters communicated with those charged withgovernance, we determine those matters that were ofmost significance in the audit of the standalone financialstatements for the financial year ended March 31, 2025 andare therefore the key audit matters. We describe these mattersin our auditor's report unless law or regulation precludespublic disclosure about the matter or when, in extremelyrare circumstances, we determine that a matter shouldnot be communicated in our report because the adverseconsequences of doing so would reasonably be expected tooutweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
1. As required by the Companies (Auditor's Report)Order, 2020 ("the Order"), issued by the CentralGovernment of India in terms of sub-section (11) ofsection 143 of the Act, we give in the "Annexure 1" astatement on the matters specified in paragraphs 3and 4 of the Order.
2. As required by Section 143(3) of the Act, we report to
the extent applicable, that:
(a) We have sought and obtained all the informationand explanations which to the best of ourknowledge and belief were necessary for thepurposes of our audit;
(b) In our opinion, proper books of account asrequired by law have been kept by the Companyso far as it appears from our examination ofthose books, except for the matters statedin the paragraph 2 (i) (vi) below on reportingunder Rule 11(g);
(c) The Balance Sheet, the Statement of Profitand Loss including the Statement of OtherComprehensive Income, the Cash FlowStatement and Statement of Changes in Equitydealt with by this Report are in agreement withthe books of account ;
(d) In our opinion, the aforesaid standalone financialstatements comply with the AccountingStandards specified under Section 133 of theAct, read with Companies (Indian AccountingStandards) Rules, 2015, as amended;
(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 is disqualified as on March 31,2025 from being appointed as a director in termsof Section 164 (2) of the Act;
(f) The modification relating to the maintenance ofaccounts and other matters connected therewithare as stated in paragraph 2 (b) above onreporting under Section 143(3)(b) and paragraph2 (i) (vi) below on reporting under Rule 11(g).
(g) With respect to the adequacy of the internalfinancial controls with reference to standalonefinancial statements and the operatingeffectiveness of such controls, refer to ourseparate Report in "Annexure 2" to this report;
(h) In our opinion, the managerial remuneration forthe year ended March 31, 2025 has been paid/ provided by the Company to its directors inaccordance with the provisions of section 197read with Schedule V to the Act.
(i) With respect to the other matters to be includedin the Auditor's Report in accordance with Rule11 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules,2014, as amended in our opinion and to thebest of our information and according to theexplanations given to us:
i. The Company has disclosed the impact ofpending litigations on its financial positionin its standalone financial statements- Refer Note 28 (c) to the standalonefinancial 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 knowledgeand belief, other than as disclosed inthe note 40 (i) (a) to the standalonefinancial statements, no funds havebeen advanced or loaned or invested(either from borrowed funds or sharepremium or any other sources or kindof funds) by the Company to or in anyother persons or entities, includingforeign entities ("Intermediaries"),with the understanding, whetherrecorded in writing or otherwise,that the Intermediary shall, whether,directly or indirectly lend or invest inother persons or entities identifiedin any manner whatsoever by or onbehalf of the Company ("UltimateBeneficiaries") or provide anyguarantee, security or the like onbehalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries;
b) The management has representedthat, to the best of its knowledgeand belief, other than as disclosed inthe note 40 (i) (b) to the standalonefinancial statements, no funds havebeen received by the Company fromany persons or entities, including
foreign entities ("Funding Parties"),with the understanding, whetherrecorded in writing or otherwise,that the Company shall, whether,directly or indirectly, lend or investin other persons or entities identifiedin any manner whatsoever by or onbehalf of the Funding Party ("UltimateBeneficiaries") or provide anyguarantee, security or the like on behalfof the Ultimate Beneficiaries; and
c) Based on such audit proceduresperformed that have been consideredreasonable and appropriate in thecircumstances, nothing has cometo our notice that has caused us tobelieve that the representations undersub-clause (a) and (b) contain anymaterial misstatement.
v. No dividend has been declared or paid
during the year by the Company.
vi. Based on our examination which includedtest checks, the Company has usedaccounting software and third-partysystems for maintaining its books of accountwhich has a feature of recording audit trail(edit log) facility and the same has operatedthroughout the financial year for theaccounting software at application level andthird-party systems. For accounting softwareat data base level and sub-systems, theaudit trail was enabled and operational fromvarious dates during the year, as describedin note 44 to the financial statements.
Further, no instance of audit trail featurebeing tampered with was noted in respectof the above accounting software(s) wherethe audit trail has been enabled and the audittrail has been preserved by the Company asper the statutory requirements for recordretention, to the extent it was enabled andrecorded in those years, as stated in Note44 to the financial statements.
Chartered AccountantsICAI Firm Registration Number: 101049W/E300004
Partner
Place of Signature: Bengaluru Membership Number: 094524
Date: May 06, 2025 UDIN: 25094524BMNZNP4517