Anil Ambani Faces 5-Year Ban by Sebi Amid Fund Diversion Allegations
Why Sebi Banned Anil Ambani
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has barred Anil Ambani, the former chairman of Reliance Home Finance (RHFL), and 24 other entities from the securities market for five years. This decision follows allegations of fund diversion from RHFL, where Ambani and key officials were found to have orchestrated a fraudulent scheme.
Sebi’s Findings in Anil Ambani Case
Sebi's investigation revealed that Anil Ambani, with the assistance of key managerial personnel at RHFL, siphoned off funds under the guise of loans to entities linked to him. Despite directives from the RHFL Board to halt such practices, the company's management ignored these orders, leading to a significant governance failure.
Impact on RHFL and Shareholders
The fraudulent activities led to RHFL defaulting on its debt obligations, resulting in the company's resolution under the RBI Framework. Public shareholders of RHFL faced substantial losses, with the company's share price plummeting from Rs 59.60 in March 2018 to just Rs 0.75 by March 2020. As of now, over 9 lakh shareholders remain invested in RHFL, bearing the brunt of the financial misconduct.
Sebi Imposes Fine on Anil Ambani, Others
Sebi imposed fines not only on Ambani but also on other former key officials of RHFL, including Amit Bapna, Ravindra Sudhalkar, and Pinkesh R Shah. Additionally, several entities linked to the Reliance group were fined for their involvement in the illegal diversion of funds.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.