Alka Securities: Sebi revokes 317 bans

The case relates to a probe by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) into a spurt in the price and volume in the shares of Alka Securities Limited (ASL) during the period of November 2008 to March 2009.

Based on the preliminary findings, Sebi had identified 9 promoter level entities to have allegedly indulged in price manipulation, as also 42 other entities directly and 317 indirectly being part of the stock manipulation practices.

Consequently, Sebi passed an interim order against these entities in 2009, barring them from dealing in ASL shares.

Sebi said the completion of its investigation into the matter shows that the said 317 second-level entities identified in the interim order were used as conduits by ASL, its promoters and other related entities.

No further action, however, has been contemplated as against these entities pursuant to the investigation and therefore the interim directions issued by Sebi need not be continued, the regulator said in its final order dated September 10, 2012.

Accordingly, Sebi has decided to "revoke the interim directions issued vide ad interim ex-parte order dated July 28, 2009 (against the said 317) with immediate effect," the order said.

Sebi probe had found that ASL promoters had used off-market route to transfer shares to 42 first-level entities and these entities in turn dealt transferred

... contd.