Sebi orders Saradha Realty to close schemes, refund money

Market regulator Sebi today ordered Kolkata-based Saradha Realty India to close all its collective schemes and refund the money collected from investors within three months, amid continuing protests against the alleged fraudulent activities of the group.

In a late night 12-page order, the capital market regulator also barred Saradha Realty India and its Managing Director Sudipto Sen from the securities markets till the time it winds up all its Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) and refunds the entire money to investors. Investors and agents of various investment schemes launched by Saradha group in West Bengal have been protesting for many past days.

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Meanwhile, Sen was arrested today in J&K. Sebi said it would initiate proceedings against Saradha Realty and its directors if the company fails to wind up its CIS schemes and refund the investors. The regulator also warned of launching a criminal case for "fraud, cheating, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds" and initiation of winding up of the entire company through a reference to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, if its orders are not complied within three months. Sources said investigations are on by Sebi against some other entities of Saradha group for similar violations of its CIS regulations.

The Sebi order against Saradha Realty follows an investigation launched about three years ago by it after a reference was received from the Director Economic Offences Investigation Cell, Government of West Bengal in April 2010. Sebi found that the company was collecting money from public in the range of Rs 10,000 to Rs 100,000 for 15 months to 120 months, with a promise of returns of 12-24 percent.