Supreme Court rejects Sanofi India's bid to avoid corporate criminal liability
The Supreme Court turned down Sanofi India Ltd.'s plea to quash prosecution, ruling that a corporation can be held liable even without a named natural person.
Sanofi India argued that a company lacking a physical body and mental intent cannot be imprisoned, and that charges should be dismissed unless an individual is also accused. The bench rejected this, stating that the absence of a specific natural person does not automatically eliminate the corporation's role in the offence. The court emphasized that corporate liability remains viable for crimes requiring mens rea.
Why it matters
The decision clarifies that corporations in India can be prosecuted for serious crimes, affecting corporate compliance and legal strategy.
In this story
corporate criminal liabilitymens reaSupreme Court rulingSanofi Indiacorporation convictionlegal proceedingsfine instead of imprisonment
