How to Claim Unclaimed Shares in Delhi / Recovery of Shares from IEPF

How to Claim Unclaimed Shares in Delhi / Recovery of Shares from IEPF. Many people in Delhi have unclaimed shares or dividends without even realizing it. This mostly happens due to old addresses, lost documents, or lack of awareness. Sometimes, family members are not aware of the investments made by a deceased relative, and the shares remain unclaimed for years.
To protect such investments, the Government of India has created the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). If dividends remain unclaimed for seven years, the shares automatically get transferred to the IEPF. The good news is you can still recover them.
This article gives you a simple and complete guide on how people in Delhi can check, verify,
What Is an Unclaimed Dividend?
Unclaimed dividend means the dividend amount that a company declares for its shareholders, but the shareholder never receives or collects. This usually happens because of reasons like outdated addresses, closed bank accounts, lost dividend cheques, or lack of awareness.
For example, if Maruti Suzuki declares a dividend and sends it to a shareholder, but the cheque bounces or never reaches them, that amount becomes unclaimed.
Companies keep this unclaimed money for seven years. If the shareholder does not claim it within this period, the dividend is transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF).
Why Do People in Delhi Have Unclaimed Shares?
Many people in Delhi end up having unclaimed shares because of very basic and common reasons, such as:

Not updating address after shifting: People in Delhi move houses often. If they forget to update their new address with the company, important letters and dividend cheques never reach them.

Losing old share certificates: Many older investors still have physical share certificates. These papers can get lost while shifting or cleaning, and without them, people stop following up on their shares.

Not converting physical shares into Demat: SEBI now requires all shares to be in Demat form. Many people never completed this process, so their dividends stopped coming, and the shares eventually became unclaimed.

Ignoring letters or emails from the company: Sometimes companies send reminders, but people don’t read or respond to them. Because of this, their dividends remain unclaimed for years.

Shareholder passed away: In many families, no one knows about the investments of a deceased family member. Since the family has no information or documents, the shares remain unclaimed.

Change in bank account: If someone closes or changes their bank account and forgets to update it with the company, their dividend cannot be credited.

Name mismatch issues: If the name on the shares doesn’t match the person’s current name due to marriage, spelling mistakes, or signature differences the company may stop processing payments, leading to unclaimed shares.

Process to Claim Shares from IEPF (For Delhi Residents)
Step 1: Check if Your Shares or Dividends Are Unclaimed
You can check this in two ways:

Visit the IEPF Website

Enter your: Folio Number (if physical shares) and DP ID/Client ID (if Demat)
The website will show whether your shares or dividends are transferred to IEPF.

Company’s Investor Relations Page

Most companies upload the list of unclaimed dividends/shareholders on their websites.
Step 2: Contact the Company’s Registrar & Transfer Agent (RTA)
Every company hires a Registrar & Transfer Agent (RTA) such as:

KFin Technologies

Link Intime

Cameo Corporate Services

MCS Share Transfer Agent

MAS Services, etc.

What you must do:

Contact the RTA through email or phone.

Inform them that you want to recover unclaimed shares.

Request an Entitlement Letter, which confirms:

Number of shares transferred to the IEPF

Amount of unclaimed dividends

Verification that you are the rightful claimant

Documents generally required:

PAN

Aadhaar

Folio Number / Demat details

Old correspondence (if available)

Step 3: Fill Form IEPF-5 on the MCA Website
Go to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs → IEPF Services section.
You need to fill in:

Personal details (Name, DOB, Aadhaar, PAN)

Company name

Number of shares

Dividend details

Demat Account information (DP ID & Client ID)

After submitting:
Download the IEPF-5 Form Save the Acknowledgement/SRN Number. These must be sent to the company later.
Step 4: Prepare Documents for Submission
Once IEPF-5 is filed, prepare the following:
Mandatory Documents

Printed and signed IEPF-5 form

SRN/Acknowledgement copy

Entitlement Letter from RTA

Indemnity Bond (Stamp paper value depends on state rules)

Advance Stamped Receipt

PAN (self-attested)

Aadhaar (self-attested)

Cancelled cheque

Client Master List (CML) from your Demat account

Original share certificates (if you have physical shares)

Additional Documents for Legal Heirs

Death certificate of shareholder

Succession Certificate / Legal Heir Certificate / Registered Will

NOC from all legal heirs (if required)

ID and address proof of all heirs

Step 5: Send All Documents to the Company’s Nodal Officer
Every listed company has a designated IEPF Nodal Officer.
Delhi residents must courier or speed-post their documents to the company’s registered office address (given on the company’s website).
Example Format:
Nodal Officer – IEPF Company Name Registered Office Address Email & Phone
The company will only start verification once they receive your complete set of documents.
Step 6: Company Verification Process
After receiving your documents, the company will:

Verify your identity

Check the entitlement

Ensure documents are correct

Prepare a Verification Report

As per law, companies must send this report to the IEPF Authority within 30 days.
Step 7: Approval by IEPF Authority
Once the IEPF receives the company’s report, they process your claim.
If approved:

Shares are directly credited to your Demat account

Unclaimed dividends are released to your bank account

Processing time can vary from 1 month to a few months, depending on accuracy and workload.
Conclusion
Recovering unclaimed shares or dividends is completely possible if you follow the right steps. By checking your name on the IEPF website, contacting the company’s RTA, filing Form IEPF-5, and sending the required documents, you can successfully get your shares back in your demat account and receive any pending dividends in your bank.
In Delhi, most people end up with unclaimed shares because of shifting houses, lost certificates, or old physical share documents. But the government has made the recovery process much easier and more transparent. Remember these shares and dividends are your money, and you have every right to claim them. With correct paperwork and a little patience, the process becomes smooth.
If you need help with filing, documentation, or recovering shares from the IEPF, you can contact Compliance Calendar LLP for professional assistance. They will guide you through the entire process and ensure your claim is handled correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What are unclaimed shares? 
Ans. Unclaimed shares are shares that belong to an investor but have not been accessed or claimed for years. This usually happens due to outdated addresses, lost certificates, or lack of awareness. After 7 years of unclaimed dividends, these shares moved to the IEPF. You can still recover them by following the proper process.
Q2. How do shares get transferred to the IEPF? 
Ans. If dividends for a particular share remain unclaimed for 7 continuous years, the company must transfer the shares to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF). This is done as per MCA rules. The shares are not lost—they stay with IEPF until the rightful owner claims them.
Q3. Can legal heirs claim shares of a deceased person? 
Ans. Yes, legal heirs can claim the shares of a deceased family member. They must provide documents like the death certificate, succession certificate/Will, and ID proofs. After verification, the shares and dividends are transferred to the heir’s demat/bank account.
Q4. How long does the IEPF claim process take? 
Ans. The process usually takes 1–3 months, depending on document accuracy and company verification. Sometimes it may take longer if documents are missing or incorrect. Submitting complete paperwork helps speed up approval.
Q5. Do I need a demat account to receive recovered shares? 
Ans. Yes, having a demat account is mandatory. IEPF releases recovered shares only into a valid demat account. If you don’t have one, you must open it before filing Form IEPF-5.
Q6. What is an Entitlement Letter and why is it important? 
Ans. An Entitlement Letter is issued by the company’s RTA to confirm the number of shares and unclaimed dividends transferred to IEPF. It proves that you are the rightful claimant. You must submit this letter along with Form IEPF-5.
Q7. Can I claim unclaimed shares without old physical share certificates? 
Ans. Yes, even if you lost the original certificates, you could still recover your shares. You will need to inform the RTA and submit supporting documents. They will verify your details and still process the claim through IEPF.
Q8. Is the IEPF recovery process completely online? 
Ans. The filing of Form IEPF-5 is online, but you must courier physical documents to the company’s Nodal Officer. After the company verifies your claim, the IEPF processes everything digitally and transfers shares directly to your demat account.
Q9. What happens if my name or signature doesn’t match the records? 
Ans. You may need to provide supporting documents such as a gazette notification (for name change), marriage certificate, or signature verification from your bank. These help the company confirm your identity before approving the claim.
Q10. Where can I get help if the process feels complicated? 
Ans. If you need assistance with filing, documentation, or understanding the legal requirements, you can contact Compliance Calendar LLP. They provide professional support and simplify the entire IEPF recovery process for investors and legal heirs.

Many people in Delhi have unclaimed shares or dividends without even realizing it. This mostly happens due to old addresses, lost documents, or lack of awareness. Sometimes, family members are not aware of the investments made by a deceased relative, and the shares remain unclaimed for years.

To protect such investments, the Government of India has created the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). If dividends remain unclaimed for seven years, the shares automatically get transferred to the IEPF. The good news is you can still recover them.

This article gives you a simple and complete guide on how people in Delhi can check, verify,

What Is an Unclaimed Dividend?

Unclaimed dividend means the dividend amount that a company declares for its shareholders, but the shareholder never receives or collects. This usually happens because of reasons like outdated addresses, closed bank accounts, lost dividend cheques, or lack of awareness.

For example, if Maruti Suzuki declares a dividend and sends it to a shareholder, but the cheque bounces or never reaches them, that amount becomes unclaimed.

Companies keep this unclaimed money for seven years. If the shareholder does not claim it within this period, the dividend is transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF).

Why Do People in Delhi Have Unclaimed Shares?

Many people in Delhi end up having unclaimed shares because of very basic and common reasons, such as:

Not updating address after shifting: People in Delhi move houses often. If they forget to update their new address with the company, important letters and dividend cheques never reach them.
Losing old share certificates: Many older investors still have physical share certificates. These papers can get lost while shifting or cleaning, and without them, people stop following up on their shares.
Not converting physical shares into Demat: SEBI now requires all shares to be in Demat form. Many people never completed this process, so their dividends stopped coming, and the shares eventually became unclaimed.
Ignoring letters or emails from the company: Sometimes companies send reminders, but people don’t read or respond to them. Because of this, their dividends remain unclaimed for years.
Shareholder passed away: In many families, no one knows about the investments of a deceased family member. Since the family has no information or documents, the shares remain unclaimed.
Change in bank account: If someone closes or changes their bank account and forgets to update it with the company, their dividend cannot be credited.
Name mismatch issues: If the name on the shares doesn’t match the person’s current name due to marriage, spelling mistakes, or signature differences the company may stop processing payments, leading to unclaimed shares.

Process to Claim Shares from IEPF (For Delhi Residents)

Step 1: Check if Your Shares or Dividends Are Unclaimed

You can check this in two ways:

Visit the IEPF Website

Enter your: Folio Number (if physical shares) and DP ID/Client ID (if Demat)

The website will show whether your shares or dividends are transferred to IEPF.

Company’s Investor Relations Page

Most companies upload the list of unclaimed dividends/shareholders on their websites.

Step 2: Contact the Company’s Registrar & Transfer Agent (RTA)

Every company hires a Registrar & Transfer Agent (RTA) such as:

KFin Technologies
Link Intime
Cameo Corporate Services
MCS Share Transfer Agent
MAS Services, etc.

What you must do:

Contact the RTA through email or phone.
Inform them that you want to recover unclaimed shares.
Request an Entitlement Letter, which confirms:

Number of shares transferred to the IEPF
Amount of unclaimed dividends
Verification that you are the rightful claimant

Documents generally required:

PAN
Aadhaar
Folio Number / Demat details
Old correspondence (if available)

Step 3: Fill Form IEPF-5 on the MCA Website

Go to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs → IEPF Services section.

You need to fill in:

Personal details (Name, DOB, Aadhaar, PAN)
Company name
Number of shares
Dividend details
Demat Account information (DP ID & Client ID)

After submitting:

Download the IEPF-5 Form Save the Acknowledgement/SRN Number. These must be sent to the company later.

Step 4: Prepare Documents for Submission

Once IEPF-5 is filed, prepare the following:

Mandatory Documents

Printed and signed IEPF-5 form
SRN/Acknowledgement copy
Entitlement Letter from RTA
Indemnity Bond (Stamp paper value depends on state rules)
Advance Stamped Receipt
PAN (self-attested)
Aadhaar (self-attested)
Cancelled cheque
Client Master List (CML) from your Demat account
Original share certificates (if you have physical shares)

Additional Documents for Legal Heirs

Death certificate of shareholder
Succession Certificate / Legal Heir Certificate / Registered Will
NOC from all legal heirs (if required)
ID and address proof of all heirs

Step 5: Send All Documents to the Company’s Nodal Officer

Every listed company has a designated IEPF Nodal Officer.

Delhi residents must courier or speed-post their documents to the company’s registered office address (given on the company’s website).

Example Format:

Nodal Officer – IEPF
Company Name
Registered Office Address
Email & Phone

The company will only start verification once they receive your complete set of documents.

Step 6: Company Verification Process

After receiving your documents, the company will:

Verify your identity
Check the entitlement
Ensure documents are correct
Prepare a Verification Report

As per law, companies must send this report to the IEPF Authority within 30 days.

Step 7: Approval by IEPF Authority

Once the IEPF receives the company’s report, they process your claim.

If approved:

Shares are directly credited to your Demat account
Unclaimed dividends are released to your bank account

Processing time can vary from 1 month to a few months, depending on accuracy and workload.

Conclusion

Recovering unclaimed shares or dividends is completely possible if you follow the right steps. By checking your name on the IEPF website, contacting the company’s RTA, filing Form IEPF-5, and sending the required documents, you can successfully get your shares back in your demat account and receive any pending dividends in your bank.

In Delhi, most people end up with unclaimed shares because of shifting houses, lost certificates, or old physical share documents. But the government has made the recovery process much easier and more transparent. Remember these shares and dividends are your money, and you have every right to claim them. With correct paperwork and a little patience, the process becomes smooth.

If you need help with filing, documentation, or recovering shares from the IEPF, you can contact Compliance Calendar LLP for professional assistance. They will guide you through the entire process and ensure your claim is handled correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What are unclaimed shares?

Ans. Unclaimed shares are shares that belong to an investor but have not been accessed or claimed for years. This usually happens due to outdated addresses, lost certificates, or lack of awareness. After 7 years of unclaimed dividends, these shares moved to the IEPF. You can still recover them by following the proper process.

Q2. How do shares get transferred to the IEPF?

Ans. If dividends for a particular share remain unclaimed for 7 continuous years, the company must transfer the shares to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF). This is done as per MCA rules. The shares are not lost—they stay with IEPF until the rightful owner claims them.

Q3. Can legal heirs claim shares of a deceased person?

Ans. Yes, legal heirs can claim the shares of a deceased family member. They must provide documents like the death certificate, succession certificate/Will, and ID proofs. After verification, the shares and dividends are transferred to the heir’s demat/bank account.

Q4. How long does the IEPF claim process take?

Ans. The process usually takes 1–3 months, depending on document accuracy and company verification. Sometimes it may take longer if documents are missing or incorrect. Submitting complete paperwork helps speed up approval.

Q5. Do I need a demat account to receive recovered shares?

Ans. Yes, having a demat account is mandatory. IEPF releases recovered shares only into a valid demat account. If you don’t have one, you must open it before filing Form IEPF-5.

Q6. What is an Entitlement Letter and why is it important?

Ans. An Entitlement Letter is issued by the company’s RTA to confirm the number of shares and unclaimed dividends transferred to IEPF. It proves that you are the rightful claimant. You must submit this letter along with Form IEPF-5.

Q7. Can I claim unclaimed shares without old physical share certificates?

Ans. Yes, even if you lost the original certificates, you could still recover your shares. You will need to inform the RTA and submit supporting documents. They will verify your details and still process the claim through IEPF.

Q8. Is the IEPF recovery process completely online?

Ans. The filing of Form IEPF-5 is online, but you must courier physical documents to the company’s Nodal Officer. After the company verifies your claim, the IEPF processes everything digitally and transfers shares directly to your demat account.

Q9. What happens if my name or signature doesn’t match the records?

Ans. You may need to provide supporting documents such as a gazette notification (for name change), marriage certificate, or signature verification from your bank. These help the company confirm your identity before approving the claim.

Q10. Where can I get help if the process feels complicated?

Ans. If you need assistance with filing, documentation, or understanding the legal requirements, you can contact Compliance Calendar LLP. They provide professional support and simplify the entire IEPF recovery process for investors and legal heirs.