Adani row: 6-month probe extension was requested to ensure justice, SEBI tells SC in rejoinder affidavit

By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: SEBI instructed the Supreme Court on Monday {{that a}} six-month extension for a probe into the Adani Hindenburg scenario is being seemed for guaranteeing carriage of justice.

Underscoring the complexity of transactions referred, SEBI has talked about, “In respect of the investigation/examination relating to 12 transactions referred to in the Hindenburg Report, prima facie it is noted that these transactions are highly complex and have many sub-transactions across numerous jurisdictions and a rigorous investigation of these transactions would require collation of data/information from various sources including bank statements from multiple domestic as well as international banks, financial statements of onshore and offshore entities involved in the transactions and contracts and agreements, if any, entered between the entities along with other supporting documents. Thereafter, analysis would have to be conducted on the documents received from various sources before conclusive findings can be arrived at.” 

Denying the allegation levelled by the petitioners that SEBI has been investigating Adani since 2016, the affidavit says that the investigation really pertained to the issuance of Global Depository Receipts by 51 Indian listed companies, which did not embrace any listed agency of Adani Group. 

While proposing to grant three months to SEBI to complete the probe instead of the six months sought, CJI DY Chandrachud closing week had talked about, “To now extend 6 months time may not be appropriate and we will extend the time for 3 months because they have a point in saying that SEBI was already investigating. We’ll place the matter around August 14. 6 months cannot be given as a minimum time. SEBI cannot take an indefinitely long period and we will give them 3 months. There has to be some alacrity in completing the investigation. Put together a team.” 

SEBI moreover submitted that for ascertaining doable violations related to misrepresentation of financials, circumvention of legal guidelines and/or fraudulent nature of transactions in respect of the 12 suspicious transactions, given the complexity of the matter, SEBI inside the common course would take a minimum of 15 months for completion of the investigation of these transactions, nevertheless is making all reasonably priced endeavours to conclude the similar inside six months.

NEW DELHI: SEBI instructed the Supreme Court on Monday {{that a}} six-month extension for a probe into the Adani Hindenburg scenario is being seemed for guaranteeing carriage of justice.

Underscoring the complexity of transactions referred, SEBI has talked about, “In respect of the investigation/examination relating to 12 transactions referred to in the Hindenburg Report, prima facie it is noted that these transactions are highly complex and have many sub-transactions across numerous jurisdictions and a rigorous investigation of these transactions would require collation of data/information from various sources including bank statements from multiple domestic as well as international banks, financial statements of onshore and offshore entities involved in the transactions and contracts and agreements, if any, entered between the entities along with other supporting documents. Thereafter, analysis would have to be conducted on the documents received from various sources before conclusive findings can be arrived at.” 

Denying the allegation levelled by the petitioners that SEBI has been investigating Adani since 2016, the affidavit says that the investigation really pertained to the issuance of Global Depository Receipts by 51 Indian listed companies, which did not embrace any listed agency of Adani Group. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.present(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

While proposing to grant three months to SEBI to complete the probe instead of the six months sought, CJI DY Chandrachud closing week had talked about, “To now extend 6 months time may not be appropriate and we will extend the time for 3 months because they have a point in saying that SEBI was already investigating. We’ll place the matter around August 14. 6 months cannot be given as a minimum time. SEBI cannot take an indefinitely long period and we will give them 3 months. There has to be some alacrity in completing the investigation. Put together a team.” 

SEBI moreover submitted that for ascertaining doable violations related to misrepresentation of financials, circumvention of legal guidelines and/or fraudulent nature of transactions in respect of the 12 suspicious transactions, given the complexity of the matter, SEBI inside the common course would take a minimum of 15 months for completion of the investigation of these transactions, nevertheless is making all reasonably priced endeavours to conclude the similar inside six months.