DNAMEDIA - Diligent Media
📢 Recent Corporate Announcements
Diligent Media Corporation Limited (DNAMEDIA) has announced the resignation of Mr. Chitresh Sehgal as Chief Executive Officer, effective March 12, 2026. Mr. Sehgal, who served as a Key Managerial Personnel (KMP), is leaving the company after nearly five years to pursue external career interests. The resignation was formally tendered on January 12, 2026, allowing for a transition period. The company has not yet announced a successor for the top leadership role.
- Mr. Chitresh Sehgal resigned as CEO and Key Managerial Personnel effective March 12, 2026.
- The executive is departing after a tenure of nearly 5 years with the organization.
- The resignation was submitted on January 12, 2026, providing a two-month notice period.
- The stated reason for departure is to pursue career interests outside the company.
Diligent Media Corporation Limited (DNAMEDIA) has been directed by the GST Department to comply with a tax demand of ₹68,94,878, which includes tax, penalty, and interest. The demand relates to alleged undeclared turnover of Pri-Media Services Pvt. Ltd., a merged entity, for the financial year 2018-19. The company's application for rectification of the order was recently rejected by the Office of the Assistant Commissioner of State Tax, Mumbai. DNAMEDIA is now seeking legal counsel and intends to challenge this demand before the appropriate appellate authority.
- GST Department demands ₹68,94,878 in tax, penalty, and interest for FY 2018-19.
- The liability stems from the merged entity Pri-Media Services Pvt. Ltd.
- Company's rectification application was rejected by the GST Department in Mumbai.
- DNAMEDIA plans to file an appeal with the appropriate appellate authority to contest the demand.
Diligent Media Corporation Limited has filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court to contest a ₹33.90 crore GST demand order. The demand, issued by the Assistant Commissioner of State Tax, Mumbai, pertains to the assignment of leasehold rights for an industrial plot. The company is challenging the order based on judicial precedents and legal advice, seeking to overturn the demand which includes GST, interest, and penalties. This follows an initial disclosure of the tax liability made by the company in January 2026.
- Filed a Writ Petition in the Bombay High Court on February 24, 2026, against a GST Demand Order.
- The total demand amount under dispute is ₹33.90 crores, including GST, interest, and penalties.
- The dispute relates to the non-payment of GST on the assignment of leasehold rights for a Mumbai-based industrial plot.
- The company is relying on judicial precedents in similar matters to contest the tax authority's claim.
Diligent Media Corporation (DNAMEDIA) reported a net loss of ₹29.78 lakhs for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, compared to a profit of ₹254.25 lakhs in the same period last year. Total income saw a massive decline to ₹155.42 lakhs from ₹677.88 lakhs YoY, primarily due to a sharp drop in other income. The company's net worth remains negative as accumulated losses have exceeded its paid-up capital and reserves. Furthermore, the company is contesting a significant GST demand of ₹3,390.68 lakhs and dealing with a complex ₹17,340.27 lakh inter-corporate deposit settlement.
- Revenue from operations fell to ₹140.76 lakhs in Q3 FY26 from ₹171.25 lakhs in Q3 FY25.
- The company turned to a net loss of ₹29.78 lakhs for the quarter versus a profit of ₹254.25 lakhs YoY.
- Auditors issued a qualified opinion regarding ₹17,340.27 lakhs in outstanding Inter Corporate Deposits (ICDs) given to Veena Investments.
- A GST demand of ₹3,390.68 lakhs including interest and penalties has been raised against the company.
- Accumulated losses have fully eroded the company's net worth, though management continues to operate on a 'going concern' basis.
Diligent Media Corporation Limited reported a weak performance for Q3 FY26, with revenue from operations falling to ₹140.76 lakhs from ₹171.25 lakhs YoY. The company swung to a net loss of ₹29.78 lakhs compared to a profit of ₹254.25 lakhs in the previous year's corresponding quarter. A significant concern is that accumulated losses have exceeded the company's paid-up capital and reserves, though management continues to operate on a going concern basis. Furthermore, the statutory auditors have issued a qualified opinion regarding the treatment of Inter Corporate Deposits and the lack of impairment testing.
- Revenue from operations declined 17.8% YoY to ₹140.76 lakhs in Q3 FY26.
- Reported a net loss of ₹29.78 lakhs versus a profit of ₹254.25 lakhs in Q3 FY25.
- Auditors issued a qualified opinion concerning ₹17,340.27 lakhs in Inter Corporate Deposits (ICDs) granted to Veena Investments.
- The company faces a significant GST demand of ₹3,390.68 lakhs including interest and penalties, which is currently being contested.
- Accumulated losses have fully eroded the company's net worth as of December 31, 2025.
Diligent Media Corporation Limited (DNAMEDIA) has announced the resignation of Ms. Srishty Choudhury from her role as Associate News Editor — DNA. Ms. Choudhury was designated as a member of the Senior Management Personnel. Her resignation became effective at the close of business hours on January 14, 2026. The company cited her desire to pursue career opportunities outside the organization as the reason for her departure.
- Ms. Srishty Choudhury resigned from the position of Associate News Editor — DNA.
- The resignation is effective from the end of working hours on January 14, 2026.
- The role was classified as Senior Management Personnel under SEBI Listing Regulations.
- The resignation letter was submitted on December 1, 2025, indicating a planned transition.
Diligent Media Corporation Limited has been served a GST Demand Order totaling ₹33.90 crores by the Assistant Commissioner of State Tax, Mumbai. The demand relates to the 2018-19 financial year concerning the assignment of leasehold rights for an industrial plot, which the tax authority classifies as a taxable supply of services. The total demand includes a substantial penalty of ₹10.32 crores plus interest. The company intends to challenge the order, maintaining that the transaction constitutes a non-taxable transfer of land.
- Total financial implication of ₹33.90 crores including tax, interest, and penalty.
- Specific penalty amount of ₹10.32 crores levied for the FY 2018-19 period.
- Dispute centers on whether the assignment of leasehold rights for a Mumbai plot is a taxable service.
- Company has already made submissions arguing the transaction is a 'transfer of land' exempt from GST.
- Management is currently consulting legal counsel to determine the next course of action.
Diligent Media Corporation Limited has filed its quarterly compliance certificate under Regulation 74(5) of the SEBI (Depositories and Participants) Regulations, 2018. The certificate, issued by Registrar MUFG Intime India Pvt. Ltd., confirms that all securities received for dematerialization during the quarter ended December 31, 2025, were processed within prescribed timelines. It further verifies that physical certificates were mutilated and cancelled, and the name of the depositories was updated in the register of members. This filing is a standard administrative requirement to ensure the integrity of the company's shareholding records.
- Compliance certificate submitted for the quarter ended December 31, 2025.
- Confirmation provided by Registrar and Share Transfer Agent, MUFG Intime India Pvt. Ltd.
- Verification that dematerialized securities are listed on the stock exchanges where earlier shares are listed.
- Physical share certificates were mutilated and cancelled after due verification by the depository participant.
Diligent Media Corporation Limited has notified the stock exchanges regarding the closure of its trading window starting January 1, 2026. This action is taken in compliance with SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015, ahead of the Q3 and nine-month financial results for the period ending December 31, 2025. The trading window will remain closed for all designated persons until 48 hours after the financial results are declared. The specific date for the Board Meeting to approve these results will be announced separately in the future.
- Trading window closure to commence from Thursday, January 1, 2026.
- Closure is related to the declaration of Un-audited Financial Results for Q3 and nine months ended December 31, 2025.
- The window will reopen 48 hours after the results are submitted to the NSE and BSE.
- The date for the Board Meeting to consider the results is yet to be finalized and will be intimated later.
Financial Performance
Revenue Growth by Segment
Digital Media business revenue grew by 36% YoY, increasing from INR 970.24 lakhs in FY 2023-24 to INR 1,319.19 lakhs in FY 2024-25. The company has entirely transitioned from print to digital operations.
Geographic Revenue Split
Not specifically disclosed by region, but the company operates primarily in India with a focus on Mumbai and Ahmedabad markets, and reaches a global audience through its digital platforms (dnaindia.com).
Profitability Margins
Operating Profit Margin (OPM) stood at 72.53% for FY 2024-25. Net Profit Margin (NPM) was reported at 103.23% for the same period, influenced by Other Income of INR 1,372.92 lakhs which exceeded operational revenue.
EBITDA Margin
OPBDIT/OI was -109.0% in FY2024, showing significant operational losses before accounting for other income and exceptional items. However, PBT before exceptional items grew 58% YoY to INR 1,387.16 lakhs in FY2025.
Capital Expenditure
Not disclosed in available documents; however, depreciation was INR 13.28 lakhs in FY 2024-25, up 0.38% YoY, suggesting minimal new physical asset investment.
Credit Rating & Borrowing
The company is under a 'non-cooperation' status with ICRA. Interest coverage ratio was -74.05 times in FY2024 and 7.66 times in FY2025. Finance costs increased significantly from INR 14.28 lakhs to INR 87.97 lakhs in FY2025.
Operational Drivers
Raw Materials
Not applicable as the company is a digital media entity; primary costs are 'Other Expenses' which decreased by 37% to INR 1,304.95 lakhs in FY2025.
Key Suppliers
Not disclosed; primary operational dependencies are on digital infrastructure and content creators.
Capacity Expansion
Current digital capacity reaches 30 million monthly unique users and 909.3 million annual page views. Expansion is focused on digital platform scaling rather than physical capacity.
Raw Material Costs
Not applicable; however, overall operating costs were reduced by 37% from INR 2,055.21 lakhs to INR 1,304.95 lakhs through cost optimization strategies.
Manufacturing Efficiency
Not applicable; digital efficiency is measured by user engagement, with DNA English averaging 22 million monthly users and DNA Hindi 8.5 million.
Logistics & Distribution
Not applicable for digital content; distribution is handled via web servers and social media aggregators.
Strategic Growth
Expected Growth Rate
8%
Growth Strategy
The company aims to achieve growth through the expansion of digital platforms (dnaindia.com), focusing on video creation which now commands 60% of sector revenues. Strategies include cost optimization, revenue maximization through digital advertising, and leveraging niche content verticals like DNA AI and DNA Verified.
Products & Services
Digital News, Videos, Documentaries, Photo Stories, and Content Syndication services.
Brand Portfolio
DNA, DNA Verified, DNA Lit, DNA Dharma, DNA Her, DNA AI, and dnaindia.com.
New Products/Services
Expansion into AI-driven content (DNA AI) and specialized lifestyle segments (DNA Her) to capture diverse advertiser interest.
Market Expansion
Focus on increasing penetration in the Hindi-speaking market (currently 8.5 million users) and expanding the content licensing division.
Market Share & Ranking
Not disclosed; however, it competes in the digital news segment with 30 million unique monthly users.
Strategic Alliances
Originally incorporated as a Joint Venture of two media conglomerates; currently maintains a content licensing division for syndication.
External Factors
Industry Trends
The Indian M&E sector is shifting toward video (60% revenue share) and digital media, which is projected to grow to US$ 7.14 billion by FY27. Traditional media (print/radio) saw a 3% revenue drop recently.
Competitive Landscape
Competes with major digital news aggregators and traditional publishers who have transitioned to digital-first models.
Competitive Moat
The 'DNA' brand serves as a moat with a strong legacy in journalism, supporting 30 million unique users. However, sustainability is challenged by the high competitive intensity of digital-first news outlets.
Macro Economic Sensitivity
Highly sensitive to economic slowdowns; a dip in GDP growth typically leads to a 10-20% reduction in corporate advertising budgets, directly impacting digital revenue.
Consumer Behavior
Rapid shift toward mobile-first consumption and short-form video content, necessitating a pivot from text-heavy reporting to multimedia storytelling.
Geopolitical Risks
Global economic uncertainties can lead to reduced advertising budgets from multinational companies operating in India.
Regulatory & Governance
Industry Regulations
Subject to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting regulations and IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules.
Environmental Compliance
Not disclosed; minimal impact for digital media compared to print operations.
Taxation Policy Impact
Tax expenses for FY 2024-25 were INR 25.31 lakhs compared to INR 4,194.77 lakhs in the previous year.
Legal Contingencies
The company faces material uncertainty due to an arbitration matter. Auditors issued a qualified opinion regarding the carrying value of Inter-Corporate Deposits (ICDs) and interest accrued thereon, which impacts the reported net profit and financial position.
Risk Analysis
Key Uncertainties
Material uncertainty exists regarding the company's ability to continue as a 'going concern' as accumulated losses have exceeded its paid-up capital and reserves as of September 30, 2025.
Geographic Concentration Risk
High concentration in the Indian market, particularly urban centers like Mumbai and Ahmedabad for its core brand identity.
Third Party Dependencies
Significant dependency on search engines and social media algorithms for 909.3 million page views; any algorithm change could drop traffic by 20-30%.
Technology Obsolescence Risk
High risk; failure to integrate AI and advanced video delivery could lead to loss of the 30 million user base to more tech-savvy competitors.
Credit & Counterparty Risk
Significant exposure to Inter-Corporate Deposits (ICDs) which are subject to audit qualification regarding their recoverability and carrying value.