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2014 (12) TMI 1419 - SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIAManipulative, fraudulent and unfair trade practices - Shares allotted on preferential basis - 46 allottees made a collective profit of ₹313.01 Crore on their total investment of ₹12.99 crore, a substantial return of approximately 2309 % on their investment in a period of 18 months (including the lock in period) - entire modus operandi of allotting preference shares at a premium, announcing a stock split and then bringing in connected entities to provide exit was a scheme devised to rake in ill-gotten gains HELD THAT:- Preferential allotment was used as a tool for implementation of the dubious plan, device and artifice of Radford Group & Suspected Entities and preferential allottees. The manipulation in the traded volume and price of the scrip by a group of connected entities has the potential to induce gullible and genuine investors to trade in the scrip and harm them. As such the acts and omissions of Radford Group & Suspected Entities and allottees are ‘fraudulent’ as defined under regulation 2(1)(c) of the SEBI (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices relating to Securities Market) Regulations, 2003 (‘PFUTP Regulations’) and are in contravention of the provisions of regulations 3(a), (b), (c) and (d) and 4(1), 4(2)(a), (b), (e) and (g) thereof and section 12A(a), (b) and (c) of the SEBI Act, 1992. As directors of Radford during the relevant time (i.e. Prakash Bhawarlal Biyani, Manish Nareshchandra Shah, Rajesh Kumar Maheshwari and Nitin Shivratan Murarjka), being in control of the day to day affairs of Radford, had the knowledge of its acts and omissions. They were also under an obligation to ensure that acts and transactions of Radford were not in violation of any of the applicable provisions of SEBI Regulations or other applicable laws. Therefore, prima facie find that these directors were responsible for Radford 's acts and omissions in this case. A detailed investigation of the entire scheme employed in this case is necessary to find out the role of any other entity therein including LTP contributors, Suspected entities, connection amongst the concerned entities and the ultimate owners of funds used for manipulating the price of the scrip. Therefore, while SEBI would investigate into the probable violations of the securities laws, the matter may also be referred to other law enforcement agencies such as Income Tax Department, Enforcement Directorate and Financial Intelligence Unit for necessary action at their end as may be deemed appropriate by them. SEBI strives to safeguard the interests of a genuine investor in the Indian securities market. The acts of artificially increasing the price of scrip mislead investors and the fundamental tenets of market integrity get violated with impunity due for such acts. Under the facts and circumstances of this case, I prima facie find that the acts and omissions of Radford Group & Suspected Entities and allottees as described above is inimical to the interests of participants in the securities market. Therefore, allowing the entities that are prima facie found to be involved in such fraudulent, unfair and manipulative transactions to continue to operate in the market would shake the confidence of the investors in the securities market. Considering these facts and the indulgence of a listed company in such a fraudulent scheme, plan, device and artifice as prima facie found in this case, this is a fit case where, pending investigation, effective and expeditious preventive and remedial action is required to be taken by way of ad interim ex -parte in order to protect the interests of investors and preserve the safety and integrity of the market. In view of the foregoing, in order to protect the interest of the investors and the integrity of the securities market, in exercise of the powers conferred upon me in terms of section 19 read with section 11(1), section 11 (4) and section 11B of the SEBI Act, 1992, pending inquiry/investigation and passing of final order in the matter, hereby restrain the named persons/entities from accessing the securities market and buying, selling or dealing in securities, either directly or indirectly, in any manner, till further directions.
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