The Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEP

Under Section 125 of the Companies Act 2013, amounts unclaimed and unpaid for 7 consecutive years from their due date must be credited to the Investor Education and Protection Fund. This includes unpaid dividends, matured deposits, matured debentures, application money due for refund, and sale proceeds of fractional shares. Crucially, the corresponding shares on which dividends have been unpaid for 7 consecutive years are also compulsorily transferred to IEPF's demat account. Shareholders can claim refund of both the amounts and the shares from the IEPF Authority through the prescribed procedure. The 7-year threshold is the key regulatory detail — neither 3, 5, nor 10 years.