SEBI acts against investment firm, goes to SC


SEBI acts against investment firm, goes to SC
New Delhi: SEBI has moved to the Supreme Court against one of the firms which floated Collective Investment Schemes to raise funds from public. One of the firms, named Vipra firms was directed to shut down. SEBI had observed that about 800 private entrepreneurs undertook plantation activities and themselves invested minimal amount, but raised huge money from investors in the absence of any regulatory mechanism, reports Indu Bhan of the Financial Express. These firms became successful in mobilising huge funds as they promised high returns. A bench headed by Justice DK Jain has sought reply from Vipra Farms (India) and its five directors on the Sebi's petition alleging violation of its regulations. The market regulator in 2003 had filed a complaint against Vipra in the metropolitan magistrate, Chennai, alleging that the firm was not registered under the CIS regulations. Madras HC quashed the complaint against the firm and its directors on November last year. While the government in November 1997 had notified that schemes like agro and plantation bonds, will be treated as Collective Investment Scheme under the SEBI Act, 1992, the market watchdog also notified the SEBI (Collective Investment Schemes) in 1999 to regulate such activities.