NEW DELHI: Anti-corruption ombudsman
Lokpal
has said that a complaint by a Lok Sabha MP alleging impropriety and conflict of interest by Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch “falls short” of persuading it to order any probe.
While deciding on two complaints filed by different individuals on the basis of a report by US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research, it asked the complainants to file affidavits mentioning details of the efforts made by them to verify the authenticity and credibility of the claims in Hindenburg’s report published on Aug 10, 2024.
It also asked them to articulate the allegations against the person concerned which may constitute an “offence of corruption” within the ambit of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
Hindenburg Research had in its report alleged that Buch and her husband had stakes in obscure offshore funds used in the alleged Adani money siphoning scandal. The allegations have been denied by the duo, who said the short-seller was attacking Sebi’s credibility and attempting a character assassination. Adani Group had also termed Hindenburg’s allegations as malicious and manipulation of select public information.
In a post on X, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra had on Sept 13 said she had filed a complaint against the
Sebi chief
with the Lokpal and said the anti-graft ombudsman should forward it to the Enforcement Directorate or the CBI for preliminary probe followed by a “full FIR enquiry”.
