Sebi bars RIL from F&O for one year

New Delhi: Sebi on Friday banned Reliance Industries and 12 others from equity derivatives trading for one year and directed the Mukesh Ambani-led firm to disgorge nearly Rs 1,000 crore for alleged fraudulent trading in a 10-year-old case.

An RIL company spokesperson said it will challenge the order in the 10-year old case.

Reliance Industries has been asked to disgorge Rs 447 crore, along with an annual interest of 12 per cent since November 29, 2007, which itself would be more than Rs 500 crore, taking the total disgorgement amount to nearly Rs 1,000 crore.

The case related to alleged fraudulent trading in the F&O space in the securities of RIL’s erstwhile listed subsidiary Reliance Petroleum.

In a 54-page order passed by Sebi’s whole-time member G. Mahalingam, RIL and 12 other entities have been prohibited from dealing in the “equity derivatives in the F&O segment of stock exchanges, directly or indirectly”. The ban will be in place for one year from March 24.

Reliance Industries has been directed to disgorge the amount, along with interest within 45 days.

Mahalingam said the directions are being passed after taking into consideration the magnitude of the fraud across the markets.

“I am inclined to pass certain directions against the noticees in order to protect the interest of the investors and reinstil their faith in the regulatory system,” the order said. “The noticees may, however, square off or close out their existing open positions.”

The Reliance Industries group had earlier sought to settle the case, but the capital markets regulator had rejected the proposal.

The proceedings in the long-pending case were expedited in the last few months.