Failing to de-freeze shares held by Kirloskar family: Sebi regrets delay in de-freezing accounts

In October 2020, Sebi prohibited Atul Kirloskar, Rahul Kirloskar, Alpana Kirloskar, Arti Kirloskar, and Jyotsna Kulkarni from accessing the securities market for six months. The Sebi’s order was challenged in the Appellate Tribunal, which passed in the interim in December 2020 and stayed Sebi’s order. Accordingly, the demat accounts of these 5 appellants were de-freezed except to the extent of the shares held by them in KIL

New Delhi: Sebi chief Madhabi Puri Buch on Friday said the capital markets regulator deeply regrets the failure to de-freeze the shares held by members of the Kirloskar family in Kirloskar Industries Ltd (KIL) despite the SAT’s directive. “I think what happened in terms of delay in de-freezing accounts was unacceptable. Whatever have been the cause and root cause, communications with the depository etc., Sebi was responsible, Sebi was accountable, we deeply regret what happened,” Buch told reporters at the sidelines of the CII Global Economic Policy Forum here.

Further, she said that the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has already initiated a full process review in this regard. “Within 30-45 days. We will revamp the process. So that risk of this happening again is completely minimised,” she added. The comments came after the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) pulled up Sebi on Monday for failing to de-freeze the shares held by members of the Kirloskar family in Kirloskar Industries despite the tribunal’s directive.

Also, it asked Sebi to deposit costs of Rs5 lakh before the tribunal’s Registry for its “lackadaisical approach” in the case. In October 2020, Sebi prohibited Atul Kirloskar, Rahul Kirloskar, Alpana Kirloskar, Arti Kirloskar, and Jyotsna Kulkarni from accessing the securities market for six months.