Complaint Form: Complete Guide to Filing Investor and Serious Complaints with MCA
The Complaint Form is filed on the MCA portal to lodge a complaint against a company, LLP, or foreign company with the Registrar of Companies. It is governed by Sections 206(1) and 206(3) of the Companies Act, 2013 and Section 38 of the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008.
The form covers two categories: ‘Investor related’ complaints — filed by an investor, shareholder, creditor, employee, or deposit holder regarding shares, debentures, bonds, fixed deposits, etc. — and ‘Serious’ complaints, which any complainant can file regarding corporate fraud, management disputes, cessation/removal of a director or designated partner, and similar matters.
Who Should File the Complaint Form / When is it Filed
Any investor, shareholder, creditor, employee, deposit holder, or other complainant with a grievance falling within MCA’s jurisdiction against a company, LLP, or foreign company may file this form. File only one Complaint Form per company/LLP per type of complaint — if multiple complaint types exist against the same entity, file a separate form for each, to aid tracking and closure.
Jurisdiction — When to File Elsewhere Instead
The Instruction Kit specifies that certain complaint types should be routed to other authorities rather than MCA:
| Complaint Relates To | File With |
|---|---|
| Multi-level marketing schemes, or schemes under the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978 (including chit fund businesses) | Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs |
| Termination of service, non-payment of salary, terminal benefits (service-related matters) | Ministry of Labour & Employment |
| NBFCs or Residuary Non-Banking Companies registered with RBI | Reserve Bank of India (RBI) |
| Collective investment schemes, or SEBI-registered intermediaries (stockbrokers, depository participants, mutual funds) | SEBI |
| Issue/transfer of securities and non-payment of dividend for listed (or listing-intending) companies | SEBI or MCA |
| Chit fund companies | Registrar of Chit Funds of the concerned state |
| Real estate companies | Ministry of Urban Development and Housing |
| Property title disputes or commercial disputes | Court/Tribunal of appropriate jurisdiction |
| Misuse of digital signature (e.g., alleged wrongful Form 32/Form 2 filings) | Appropriate police authority under the IT Act, 2000 |
| Deficiencies in products or services of a company | Consumer Court of appropriate jurisdiction, or MCA |
Important Checkpoints Before Filing
- Applicant must be registered as a registered user or Business User on the MCA portal before filing
- Applicant must have a valid mobile number and email ID
- The company/LLP/foreign company complained against must be registered with MCA and hold a valid CIN/LLPIN/FCRN
- The DIN/DPIN provided (if required) must be approved
- Dates entered must be on or after the date of incorporation of the company
- Attach required supporting documents in the specified format
Step-by-Step Filing Process
- Login to MCA portal → MCA Services → Company e-Filing → Informational and Investor Services
- Access the Complaint Form
- Select the complaint category (Investor related / Serious) and enter the CIN/LLPIN/FCRN of the entity concerned
- Fill up the complaint details and attach supporting documents
- Submit the webform and note the SRN
- Affix DSC (where applicable)
- Upload the DSC-affixed PDF on MCA portal
- Receive acknowledgement
Signing Requirements
- Digitally signed where applicable by the complainant or authorised signatory
Fee Structure
The Instruction Kit marks the fee-rules section as not applicable — no filing fee is prescribed for the Complaint Form.
Processing Mode
The Complaint Form is processed in Non-STP mode — every filing is reviewed manually.
Useful Links
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What are the two categories of complaints this form covers? ‘Investor related’ complaints (shares, debentures, bonds, fixed deposits) and ‘Serious’ complaints (corporate fraud, management disputes, director cessation/removal, etc.).
Q2. Can one Complaint Form cover multiple grievances against the same company? No — file a separate Complaint Form for each type of complaint against the same company/LLP, to aid effective tracking.
Q3. Is there a filing fee? No — the fee-rules section is marked not applicable.
Q4. Is the Complaint Form processed automatically? No, it is always processed in Non-STP mode with manual review.
Q5. What if my complaint is about a listed company’s dividend non-payment? It can be filed with either SEBI or MCA.
Disclaimer
This article is based on the official Instruction Kit for the Complaint Form published by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the content is intended for general guidance purposes only. MCA forms, rules, and fee structures are subject to change through amendments to the Companies Act, 2013 or notifications issued thereunder.
In case of any inconsistency or doubt, readers are advised to refer to the official MCA access page for the Complaint Form and resources available on the MCA website.