On November 21, 2023, the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), established under the Companies Act, 2013, announced it is instituting technical and procedural safeguards to prevent the misuse of summons and notices. These safeguards include digitally generated summons/notices containing a QR code and a unique document identification number (DIN). SFIO officers are mandated to issue only digitally generated documents, except in rare cases.
Recipients can verify the authenticity of the summons/notices using two options:
1. **QR Code Verification:** Scan the QR code which redirects to SFIO's website, then enter the DIN to display the contents of the summons/notice.
2. **SFIO Website Verification:** Visit https://sfio.gov.in/en/ and click on "Check Summon/Notice" tab, then enter the DIN to display the contents of the summons/notice.
These verification systems aim to give citizens immediate assurance that any communication they receive is genuine and to prevent impersonation or misuse. SFIO has also implemented a transparent multi-layer review mechanism to oversee the issuance of summons and notices.
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Key Entities Referenced
Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO): The primary body implementing the policy, responsible for investigating and prosecuting corporate fraud, and issuing the summons/notices in question.
Companies Act, 2013: The act under which the SFIO was established and the relevant sections (212 and 217) that authorize its investigative powers, including issuing summons/notices.
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
SFIO institutes safeguards to prevent misuse
of summons and notices
Digitally generated notices with QR codes, DINs and online
verification systems introduced to ensure authenticity and
protect citizens from impersonation
Posted On: 21 NOV 2025 2:25PM by PIB Delhi
The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), established under the Companies Act, 2013,
investigates and prosecutes complex corporate frauds assigned under section 212 of the Companies
Act.
During the course of investigation, Summons/Notices are issued by the Serious Fraud Investigation
Office (SFIO) as per the provisions of Section 217 of the Companies Act, 2013.
In this context, SFIO has instituted the following set of technical and procedural safeguards to prevent
impersonation or misuse of Summons/Notices.
Summons/Notices issued by SFIO are digitally generated and contain a QR code and a unique
document identification number (DIN). The officers of SFIO are mandated to issue only digitally
generated Summons/Notices except in certain rare and exceptional circumstances.
Receiver of Summons/Notices issued by SFIO can verify its authenticity through any of the
following 2 options:
Option 1 - Verification by scanning QR code:
Option 2 - Verification through SFIO’s website:The system of online verification of Summons/Notices issued by SFIO is put in place to help the
receiver to instantly verify the authenticity of the communication received.
These verification systems have been put in place to give citizens immediate assurance that any
communication they receive is genuine and to prevent impersonation or misuse.
Further, to enhance oversight, a transparent multi-layer review mechanism is in place at SFIO to
oversee the issuance of Summons and Notices.
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NB/PK
(Release ID: 2192445) Visitor Counter : 554
Read this release in: Urdu , ही , Marathi , Gujarati