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Hindenburg vs. Adani vs. SEBI: The Latest Twist This weekend, the financial world was abuzz as Hindenburg Research, a high-profile short-selling firm, leveled serious accusations against SEBI’s chairperson, Madhabi Puri-Buch. Hindenburg claimed wrongdoing, but SEBI and Madhabi Puri-Buch have swiftly countered these allegations. Short sellers, often seen as the stock market’s vigilantes, profit by betting that stock prices will fall. They sell high and buy back low, a strategy that, while sometimes uncovering corporate flaws, can also be driven by less noble motives. Hindenburg first grabbed headlines in January 2023 with allegations of stock manipulation and fraud against the Adani Group. This sparked a dramatic plunge in Adani’s stock prices, with some companies seeing drops of up to 80%. By mid-2024, however, Adani's stock had largely rebounded. In March 2023, the Supreme Court of India tasked SEBI with probing these claims. By early 2024, SEBI had nearly finished its investigation, though the results are still under wraps. The story took another turn in early July when Hindenburg disclosed that SEBI had issued a notice accusing them of not revealing certain information and potentially profiting from misleading statements. The drama escalated on August 10 when Hindenburg accused SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri-Buch and her husband of ties to offshore funds linked to Adani, suggesting potential conflicts of interest due to her husband’s role with Blackstone, a major real estate investment firm. SEBI and Puri-Buch were quick to respond, urging calm and clarity. SEBI assured that Madhabi Puri-Buch has always been open about her financial interests and has stepped back from any decisions where conflicts could arise. Madhabi Puri-Buch dismissed the claims as unfounded attacks aimed at damaging her reputation and SEBI’s credibility. IIFL, mentioned in the accusations, also refuted any connection to Adani. This latest chapter underscores the double-edged nature of short selling. While these firms can spotlight genuine issues, their tactics can also provoke controversy and confusion.

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