Adani Row To Be Probed, Supreme Court Forms Panel, Wants Regulator Report
The Supreme Court today set up a six-member committee of experts to examine issues arising out of the Adani Group’s stock crash triggered by US short-seller Hindenburg’s allegations.
The committee, headed by retired judge Abhay Manohar Sapre, will include veteran banker KV Kamath, former SEBI chief OP Bhat, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, lawyer Somasekhar Sunderesan, and retired Justice Justice JP Devdhar.
The committee will make an overall assessment of situation, suggest measures to make investors more aware and suggest measures to strengthen existing regulatory measures for stock markets, said a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.
“The Adani Group welcomes the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court. It will bring finality in a time-bound manner. Truth will prevail,” tweeted billionaire Gautam Adani.
The Supreme Court also said market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) should complete its ongoing investigation in two months and file a status report.
The Supreme Court was hearing petitions asking for a committee to look into ways of strengthening the regulatory mechanisms for the stock market following the Adani group shares crash triggered by Hindenburg Research’s fraud allegations.
The Supreme Court also directed SEBI to investigate whether there had been a violation of rules and whether there was any manipulation of stock prices.
SEBI in its note filed in the Supreme Court indicated that it is not in favour of banning short-selling or sale of borrowed shares, and said it is investigating allegations made by a tiny short-seller against the Adani Group as well as its share price movements.
Adani Group stocks plunged after the Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations, including those of fraudulent transactions and share price manipulation, against the business conglomerate.
The Adani Group has dismissed the charges as lies, saying it complies with all laws and disclosure requirements.
The Supreme Court had reserved its order on February 17 and had refused to accept in a sealed cover the Centre’s suggestion on the panel of experts.