Section 8. Offences by companies

8. Offences by companies.— (1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who, at the time the offence was committed was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. (a) "Company" means a body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and (b) "director", in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm. — No prosecution shall be instituted against any person in respect of any offence punishable under section 5 or section 7 without the previous sanction of the Central Government or such officer or authority as may be authorised by that Government by order in writing in that behalf.