SEBI Chief Denies Hindenburg’s Offshore Fund Allegations

The Indian financial sector has been rocked by recent allegations from Hindenburg Research, a US-based short-seller firm. The firm has accused the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch of having hidden stakes in offshore funds linked to the Adani Group. The allegations suggest a potential conflict of interest given Madhabi Puri Buch’s regulatory role at SEBI.

The couple has vehemently denied these allegations, terming them as a character assassination attempt. They assert that the allegations are baseless and devoid of any truth. In a joint statement, they said, “In the context of allegations made in the Hindenburg Report dated August 10, 2024, against us, we would like to state that we strongly deny the baseless allegations and insinuations made in the report”.

They further emphasized that their life and finances are an open book and they have no hesitation in disclosing any and all financial documents to any authority that may seek them. They have also promised to issue a detailed statement in due course, in the interest of complete transparency.

The allegations by Hindenburg Research come in the wake of an Enforcement action and show cause notice issued by SEBI to the Nate Anderson-led company last month. The markets regulator accused Hindenburg and Anderson of violating regulations under ‘SEBI’s Prevention of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices’ regulations, and ‘SEBI’s Code of Conduct for Research Analyst’ regulations.

The regulator also accused Hindenburg of making unfair profits through collusion, using non-public and misleading information to induce panic selling. This action by SEBI has added another layer of complexity to the controversy, raising questions about the motivations behind Hindenburg’s allegations.

The Adani Group, which is also implicated in the allegations, has categorically denied any commercial relationship with SEBI. The group described the allegations as malicious, mischievous, and manipulative selections of publicly available information to arrive at pre-determined conclusions for personal profiteering with wanton disregard for facts and the law. They further stated that all their overseas holding structure is fully transparent, with all relevant details disclosed regularly in numerous public documents.

The controversy has also caught the attention of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which has been tightening its grip on short-selling firms. In late July, the US capital markets regulator had announced action against short-selling firm Citron Capital and its head Andrew Left, for alleged ill-gotten gains.

The allegations and the subsequent denial by Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband have sparked a heated debate in the Indian financial sector. The opposition parties, including the Congress, have launched a scathing attack on the Centre over Hindenburg’s allegations, demanding immediate action to eliminate all conflicts of interest in SEBI’s investigation of the Adani Group.

The allegations by Hindenburg Research have stirred up a hornet’s nest in the Indian financial sector. The strong denial by Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband, coupled with the support from the Adani Group, has set the stage for a high-stakes battle. As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how it will impact the Indian financial sector and the reputation of the individuals and entities involved. The situation calls for a thorough and transparent investigation to ensure that the truth prevails.

(With inputs from IANS)