Checking a company's CIN and its directors

Before you sign a contract, give an advance or extend credit to a company, you want to know that it exists and who runs it. Two numbers help: the company's CIN and its directors' DINs. Used well, they give a quick view of whether a business is what it claims.

Why it matters

Shell companies, struck-off entities and lookalike names are used to take advances and disappear. A few minutes of checking the public record can prevent a large loss.

What the numbers show

• CIN: the company's name, type, state, year of incorporation and registration number.
• Company status: active, struck off or under another status.
• Directors: names and DINs of current and past directors.
• Registered address: where it is officially located.
• Filings: whether annual returns and financials are filed on time.

How to check

1. Ask for the CIN and certificate of incorporation.
2. Look up the CIN on the official corporate affairs portal and compare the name, address and status.
3. Check the directors and compare them with the people you are dealing with.
4. Match other details: GST, PAN and bank account should show the company's name.
5. Search for disputes and news about the company and its directors.
6. Confirm the person you speak to is authorised to act for the company.

Red flags

• A company incorporated only recently, with a large order or loan request
• Directors who appear in many unrelated or struck-off companies
• A registered address that is a residence or an empty office
• The signatory is not a director or authorised person

Keep a record

Save screenshots of the registry page with the date, and note who you spoke to. If a deal later goes wrong, this record shows what you checked and when. For larger amounts, repeat the check just before payment, because a company's status and directors can change.

How Praman helps

Praman by SatyaSakshi helps you meet the people behind the company. The director or authorised signatory joins a WhatsApp video call, shows ID, completes a face match and liveness check and walks you through the premises. Company, GST and court-record checks can be added where enabled, and the report brings the person, the office and the documents together.

Frequently asked questions

Related: how Praman handles this for businesses · all instant checks

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