Anil Ambani, Arshad Warsi- Famous names who SEBI has barred from the markets

In a big move, market watchdog SEBI has banned Anil Ambani from participating in the securities markets for 5 years, for diverting funds from Reliance Home Finance (RHF). This means that the debt-ridden Ambani scion will not be able to serve as key managerial personnel, or director in any listed company for the next 5 years. Additionally, he will also have to pay Rs 25 crore as a penalty.

Along with Ambani, 24 others, which include former employees of RHF, have also been banned from trading in the securities market for a five year period. RHF itself has been barred from the securities market for 6 months, and has also been penalized Rs 6 lakh.

Not the first time

In its order, SEBI found Ambani guilty of fraud and channeling away RHF funds under the guise of loans by lending them to entities connected to him. This was despite the company's board of directors repeatedly advising to stop such practices. Ambani continued to orchestrate the fraud, thanks to his key position as the chairman of ADA Group, and also because of his shareholding in RHFL's holding company.

In July this year, SEBI had barred the infamous fugitive Vijay Mallya from trading in Indian markets for three years, when it was found that Mallya illegally routed funds via foreign banks and companies to spruce up the share value of his own companies and profiting from the same, aka stock rigging. While all his assets in India are frozen, he also cannot serve as the director of any Indian listed company for this duration.

But this is not the first time SEBI has debarred people from the markets. Last year, SEBI had barred Mohammad Nasiruddin Ansari, popularly known as Baap of Charts, after he was f0und doling out misleading stock-related advise, while pretending to run educative courses.

SEBI also asked Ansari to refund Rs 17.2 crore he had collected under the guise of fees. Another popular fin-fluencer, PR Sundar, was barred from options trading for an entire year, when it was found that he was running full fledged investment advisory services i.e. recommending buying and selling stocks, without obtaining the necessary licenses

Bollywood actor Arshad Warsi, along with his wife Maria Goretti, were also banned by SEBI last year after he was found uploading videos that lured investors to buy shares of two specific companies, namely Sadhna Broadcast and Sharpline Broadcast, and thus, profiting about Rs 29.43 lakh and Rs 37.56 lakh, respectively. They were not allowed to trade until they deposited all profits made in this manner in an escrow account.

However, the duo, along with Warsi's brother Iqbal Warsi later received relief from SAT (Securities Appellate Tribunal), which set aside SEBI's order.