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Inter Globe Finance Limited vs Sebi

Securities Appellate Tribunal18 August 2017J.P. Devadhar

Ratio decidendi

The rule this decision rests on

The stay of a SEBI direction suspending trading and moving a company to Stage VI of Graded Surveillance Measure, issued without investigation or a hearing and based solely on a letter from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, is extended to the appellant because the appellant's annual turnover for the last three years, which on the face of the record appears to be correct, shows prima facie that the direction was unjustified. Where a regulator's impugned communication is challenged, the appellant is at liberty to make a representation to SEBI, and SEBI must dispose of that representation in accordance with law; the interim relief does not preclude SEBI or the stock exchanges from investigating the company and initiating proceedings if deemed fit.

Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.

Judgment

As delivered

BEFORE THE SECURITIES APPELLATE TRIBUNALMUMBAI

Date of Decision: 18.08.2017

Misc. Application No. 224 of 2017 And Appeal No. 189 of 2017

Inter Globe Finance Limited Regd. Office: Aloka House, 1st Floor, 6B Bentinck Street, Kolkata- 700 001 ...Appellant

Versus

1.

Securities and Exchange Board of India, SEBI Bhavan, Plot No. C-4A, G-Block, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra (East), Mumbai - 400 051

2. BSE Limited Phiroze Jeejeebhoy Towers, Dalal Street, Mumbai- 400 001 ...Respondents

Mr. Zal Andhyarujina, Advocate with Mr. Prakash Shah and Mr. Robin Shah, Advocates i/b Prakash Shah & Associates for the Appellant.

Mr. Tomu Francis, Advocate with Mr. Vivek Shah, Advocate for Respondent No. 1.

Mr. Nair Renjith Ramesh, Advocate i/b M/s. The Law Point for Respondent No. 2

CORAM: Justice J.P. Devadhar, Presiding Officer Dr. C.K.G. Nair, Member

Per: Justice J.P. Devadhar (Oral)

1. Without conducting any investigation and without hearing the

appellant, whether the Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI" 2

for short), solely based on the letter dated 09.06.2017 received from the

Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), is justified in passing the ex-parte

order on 07.08.2017 and directing the stock exchanges to treat, inter alia,

the appellant company as a 'suspected shell company' and suspend the

daily trading in the securities of the appellant company on the stock

exchanges by moving the securities of the appellant company to Stage VI

of Graded Surveillance Measure ("GSM" for short) is the question raised

in this appeal.

2. Similar question was raised in the case of J. Kumar Infraprojects

Ltd. (Appeal No. 174 of 2017) and by our order dated 10.08.2017 we

have stayed direction 1(a) & (b) contained in the impugned

communication of SEBI dated 07.08.2017 qua the appellant therein.

3. In view of the facts set out in the Memorandum of Appeal and

other documents tendered at the time of hearing relating to annual

turnover of the appellant company for last three years, which even

according to SEBI prima facie appear to be correct, we extend the said

stay to the case of the appellant company herein and direct the stock

exchanges to reverse their decision in respect of the appellant company

as expeditiously as possible.

4. Appellant company is at liberty to make a representation to SEBI

against the impugned communication of SEBI dated 07.08.2017. If

representation is made, SEBI shall dispose of the said representation in

accordance with law.

3

5. It is made clear that this order shall not come in the way of SEBI

as well as the stock exchanges to investigate the case of the appellant

company and initiate proceedings if deemed fit.

6. Appeal is disposed of in the aforesaid terms with no order as to

costs. In view of the disposal of the Appeal, Misc. Application No. 224

of 2017 does not survive and the same is disposed of accordingly.

Sd/-

Justice J.P. Devadhar Presiding Officer

Sd/-

Dr. C.K.G. Nair Member 18.08.2017 Prepared & Compared By: PK

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