Sebi crackdown on trading in 331 shell companies blocks investors' Rs 9,000 cr

Several actively traded small-cap firms hit; they claim classification wrong

The government crackdown against 331 “suspected shell companies” has hit several investors, including mutual funds and small investors, who hold shares worth nearly Rs 9,000 crore in these companies. 

In a late circular on Monday, market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) directed stock exchanges to immediately restrict trading in 331 companies identified as “shell companies” by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in consultation with the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) and the income-tax (I-T) department. 

While, by definition, a shell company is one without any business operations or assets, several companies with active business dealings too were