'SEBI okay with short selling, probing Hindenburg charges'

Securities market regulators in most countries, particularly in all developed markets, recognise short selling as a legitimate activity

NEW DELHI: Market regulator SEBI has indicated to the Supreme Court that it is not in favour of banning short-selling or sale of borrowed shares, and said it is investigating allegations made by a tiny short-seller against the Adani Group as well as its share price movements.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in written note before a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, which was hearing two PILs relating to the recent Adani Group shares crash, described what short-selling is and what the Hindenburg Research did but did not once name the Adani Group in the 20-page document.

The regulator, the note said, was “already enquiring both the allegations made in the Hindenburg report as well as the market activity immediately preceding and post the publication of the report.”

US-based short-seller Hindenburg in a January 24 report alleged that the Adani Group pulled “the largest con in corporate history” using offshore tax havens and stock manipulation.

The allegations, which the group has repeatedly denied, roiled shares of group’s listed companies which have together lost over $120 billion in market value in three weeks.