The statutory auditor of my company in Kolkata has issued a qualified audit report; what steps should I take and what are my obligations?

A qualified audit report under the Companies Act, 2013 indicates that the auditor has reservations about specific aspects of the financial statements, such as accounting policies, going concern assumptions, or internal controls. The Board must examine the qualifications and provide explanations in the Board's report under Section 134(3). If the qualifications relate to fraud or material misstatement, the auditor must report under Section 143(12) to the Central Government. The company should rectify the deficiencies pointed out and obtain a clean report in the subsequent year. The Calcutta High Court may interpret disputes regarding auditor independence or removal. The West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act 1997 on professional misconduct of auditors may also be relevant. Failure to address audit qualifications may lead to regulatory action by the NCLT or the MCA.