Section 84 — Prohibition on acceptance of deposits from public

(1) On and
after the commencement of this Act, no company shall invite, accept or renew
deposits from the public:

Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to a banking company
and such other company or class of companies or such deposits as the Commission
may, notify in this behalf.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “deposit” means any
deposit of money with, and includes any amount borrowed by, a company, but shall
not include a loan raised by issue of debentures or a loan obtained from a banking
company or financial institution or an advance against sale of goods or provision
of services in the ordinary course of business.

(2) Where a company accepts or invites, or allows or causes any other
person to accept or invite on its behalf, any deposit , the company shall be
punishable—

(a) where such contravention relates to the acceptance of any deposit,
with penalty which shall not be less than the amount of the deposit
so accepted; and

(b) where such contravention relates to the invitation for any deposit, shall
be liable to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.

(3) In addition to the fine on the company under sub -section (2), every
officer of the company which is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment
for a term which may extend to two years and shall also be liable to fine which may
extend to five million rupees.