(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company shall be deemed to be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly : Provided that, nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment provided in this Act, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of or is attributable to, any neglect on the part of any Director, Manager, Secretary or other Officer, such Director, Manager, Secretary or other Officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. Explanation.- For the purpose of this section,- (a) "company" means a body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals ; (b) "Director" in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.
<span style="margin-left:15px;"></span>(<i>1</i>) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company shall be deemed to be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly : <br> <span style="margin-left:15px;"></span>Provided that, nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment provided in this Act, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. <br> <span style="margin-left:15px;"></span>(<i>2</i>) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (<i>1</i>), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of or is attributable to, any neglect on the part of any Director, Manager, Secretary or other Officer, such Director, Manager, Secretary or other Officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. <br> <span style="margin-left:15px;"></span><i>Explanation</i>.- For the purpose of this section,- <br> <span style="margin-left:15px;"></span><span style="margin-left:15px;"></span>(<i>a</i>) "company" means a body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals ; <br> <span style="margin-left:15px;"></span><span style="margin-left:15px;"></span><i>(b)</i> "Director" in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm. <br>