56. Offences by body corporate

Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company.

firm, society or other body of persons, any person who, at the time of the commission of the offence, was a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer or a partner of the company, firm, society or other body of persons or was purporting to act in any such capacity, is guilty of that offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly unless he proves that -

the offence was committed without his consent or connivance;

he had exercised all such due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence as he ought to have exercised, having regard to the nature of his functions in that capacity and to all the circumstances.