In line with the PMO directive, BM Jain, the joint director for inspection in the ministry of law, justice & company affairs, has asked the registrar of companies to file a detailed report on the financials of the company and action taken by the department, if any.

A former blue-chip packaging company, Metal Box was referred to the Board for Industrial & Financial Reconstruction in late 1987. Its revival proposal was approved by the BIFR in 1996 but has failed to get going because of a series of objections raised by some of the 38 parties to the case.

The scheme is scheduled to enter the final round of hearing before the Delhi high court on May 18.

The Metal Box Workers' Union had levelled several charges against the management regarding non-payment of statutory dues likeprovident fund, sale of some prime property and transfer of shares by the promoter, in violation of a 1988 BIFR order.

Unit Trust of India's nominee on the board, TN Gidwani, had pointed out to the executive director of the Calcutta Stock Exchange that Metal Box managing director Vinod Krishna had bought 48,48,009 shares of the company for Rs 1 lakh at two paisa per share. It had proceeded with the transfer without fulfilling the statutory listing requirements.

The law ministry's Jain, in his letter to the RoC on April 8, had noted: ``I am directed to forward herewith a copy of the complaint dated 24.2.99 received from M/s Metal Box Workers' Union through Prime Minister's Office against M/s Metal Box India Ltd and to request you examine the allegations...and furnish a detailed report in the matter indicating clearly the filing and financial position of the company and default action, if any, taken by you. The requisite report may please be sent at your earliest (sic) and latest by 30.4.99.''

Whencontacted, Metal Box's media consultant refused to say whether the management has received any queries from any quarter. It said that these issues have been coming up at regular intervals. It pointed out that the management is focusing all its efforts towards reviving the company and on the hearing of May 18.

The consultant also said that the management feels that once the revival package is passed, the core issue of non-payment of statutory dues of the worker's will be resolved.