Congress has made serious allegations against SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri, who came under the scanner after the sensational report of whistleblower Hindenburg. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said in a press conference that from 2017 to 2024 she was continuously drawing salary from ICICI Bank. He claimed that during 7 years, Madhabi Puri earned Rs 16 crore 80 lakh from ICICI.
Kheda said, ‘SEBI is a regulator. SEBI is responsible for regulating the market where the middle class and all of us invest money. Who appoints the chairperson of SEBI? The Prime Minister and the Home Minister, both of them are in the ACC that appoints the chairperson of SEBI. Till now we have discussed the Hindenburg Report and other things many times. We discussed the Hindenburg Report and Adani. I will tell you even more horrifying than this, the role of the chairperson of SEBI.’
Pawan Khera said, ‘All of you must be taking salary from the same place. But the chairperson of SEBI, when she was a member, was taking regular income from ICICI Bank between 2017 and 2024. This amount is 16 crore 80 lakhs. Why was she taking salary from ICICI, being an all-time member of SEBI. She was taking salary from the bank as well as from eShop. The chairperson of SEBI, the highest-ranking officer of an important regulatory body, is taking salary from somewhere else. This is a direct violation of Section 54 of SEBI. If anyone has even a little shame, he will resign immediately.’
He said, ‘Between 2017 and 2024, she took 22 lakh 41 thousand rupees from ICICI Prudential. Why was this money taken? What services were provided? The Congress spokesperson claimed through a table that how much money the SEBI chairperson took from the bank and how much from Prudential. He said that the bank’s salary doubled in 2018.’
Let us tell you that the Hindenburg report said that SEBI Chief Madhabi Puri and her husband Dhawal Puri Buch have stakes in foreign companies that are linked to the financial irregularities of the Adani Group. After this, the Puri couple issued a statement and rejected these allegations. They said that their investment was before becoming a member of SEBI. She became a member of SEBI in 2017 while the investment was made in 2015. SEBI also reacted and said that there is also a disclaimer in the Hindenburg report which states that short positions can also be held in the bonds being discussed. SEBI had said that SEBI has almost completed the investigations related to the Adani Group.