Sebi bars DLF, six top executives from markets for 3 years

Those prohibited from the markets include K P Singh, his son Rajiv Singh and daughter Pia Singh

Regulator Sebi has barred realty major DLF, as also six top executives including Chairman K P Singh, from securities markets for three years, after finding the company guilty of "active and deliberate suppression" of material information at the time of its public offer.

Those prohibited from the markets including Singh's son Rajiv Singh (Vice Chairman) and daughter Pia Singh (Whole Time Director), Sebi said in its order.

"I find that the case of active and deliberate suppression of any material information so as to mislead and defraud the investors in the securities market in connection with the issue of shares of DLF in its IPO is clearly made out in this case," Sebi's Whole-Time Member Rajeev Agarwal said in his 43-page order.

"I am satisfied that the violations as found in this case are grave and have larger implications on the safety and integrity of the securities market.

"In my view, for the serious contraventions as found in the instant case, effective deterrent actions to safeguard the market integrity. It, therefore, becomes incumbent to deal with contraventions, digression and demeanour of the erring Noticees sternly and take appropriate actions for effective deterrence," Agarwal said.

The company and its top executives are found to have violated various regulations including Sebi's Disclosure and Investor Protection (DIP) Guidelines and the PFUTP (Prevention of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices) norms.

As per the order, those facing the ban include T C Goyal (Managing Director), Kameshwar Swarup and Ramesh Sanka. All of these persons, including K P Singh and his two children, were part of the top management at the time of filing IPO documents.

About G S Talwar, who was also a non-executive director at that time, Sebi said it could not be established whether he was involved in day-to-day operations of the company and and therefore it was giving him "benefit of doubt".

DLF had raised Rs 9,187 crore through its IPO in 2007.

Inadequate disclosures

* June 2007 - Sebi receives complaint against DLF on non-disclosure of material information in red-herring prospectus

* October 2011 - Sebi passed an order for a detailed investigation into affairs of DLF

* November 2012 - Delhi high court upheld jurisdiction of Sebi in the matter and directs for detailed probe

* May 2013 - Sebi’s investigation report on DLF was put up for approval

* June 2013 - Sebi issues show cause notice to DLF

* October 2014 – Sebi bars DLF and six others from capital markets for 3 years