Parl panel questions Sebi chief on NSE case, Paytm issue price

Functioning of crypto currency exchanges also came up when Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch appeared before parliamentary panel on finance, say people in the know

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance on Tuesday sought details from new Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch on a host of issues like the status of the probe into lapses at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), Paytm’s issue price, and the functioning of crypto currency exchanges, said people in the know.

The panel, chaired by Bharatiya Janata Party MP and former Union minister Jayant Sinha, reviewed the outcome of the measures taken by Sebi in key cases, including the NSE matter, and Buch is learnt to have apprised the committee about it.

In its final order on February 11, the Sebi held that NSE’s former MD and CEO Chitra Ramkrishna shared “confidential information” with a spiritual guru (also referred to as Himalayan yogi) and sought his advice on crucial decisions. The matter is currently being investigated by multiple probe agencies.

The panel also discussed the orderly functioning of the market amid the recent volatility and turbulent flow of cash. Along with the performance of initial public offerings (IPOs), the issue with Paytm’s issue price was also taken up. Paytm listed at a steep discount against its issue price on the stock exchange.

The panel is also learnt to have asked for details about crypto exchanges and the regulations around them. At present, India has no legislation on crypto assets. It also sought information on the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the stock market. Besides, the panel also discussed the unified securities code. The government had in the 2021 Budget proposed to introduce a unified code, a move that will help boost the ease of doing business in the country’s financial markets.

The panel chaired by Sinha had called Buch to deliberate upon regulatory issues related to IPOs, international financial services centres, and alternate investment funds, according to a notice issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

This was the second meeting of Sebi officials with the parliamentary panel since March 30.