PAC to investigate allegations against SEBI Chief Madhabi Puri Buch: Reports
New Delhi: As per reports, the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will be investigating allegations against Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch. A possible summons for Buch may be issued later this month, as reported by the Economic Times.
The investigation comes after several PAC members demanded an inquiry during the committee’s first meeting on August 29. The PAC, led by Congress leader KC Venugopal, includes members from both the NDA and the opposition's INDIA bloc.
While the agenda item for the meeting did not specifically name SEBI or its chief, it was broadly listed as a "Performance review of regulatory bodies established by an act of parliament." Unnamed sources have stated that the inquiry is linked to recent allegations against Buch, including a conflict of interest in SEBI's investigation into the Hindenburg Research allegations against the Adani Group. Additionally, SEBI employees have lodged a complaint with the finance ministry regarding a "toxic work culture" at the regulator.
Madhabi Puri Buch has denied any wrongdoing, and SEBI has refuted the employees' claims, suggesting that "external elements" might be involved in the complaints, which they described as "misplaced."
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Integrity of electoral process severely compromised, Cong to soon launch movement: CWC
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress Working Committee met here on Friday and adopted a resolution alleging the integrity of the entire electoral process was being severely compromised against which the party would soon launch a movement.
In the resolution of the top body of the Congress, the party said free and fair elections is a Constitutional mandate that was being called into "serious question by the partisan functioning of the Election Commission".
The CWC, which met amid the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, said the session has been a washout so far because of the Narendra Modi government's "stubborn refusal" to have an immediate discussion on three pressing national issues -- "the recent revelations regarding corruption by a business group, and the violence in Manipur and Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal".
Asked why the Congress Working Committee (CWC) resolution does not name the business group, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "The answer is the Adani group".
"The CWC believes the integrity of the entire electoral process is being severely compromised. Free and fair elections is a Constitutional mandate that is being called into serious question by the partisan functioning of the Election Commission.
"Increasing sections of society are becoming frustrated and deeply apprehensive. The Congress will take these up these public concerns as a national movement," the resolution stated.
Addressing a joint press conference along with Ramesh and Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, party general secretary, organisation, K C Venugopal said the party discussed the political situation in the country for four-and-half hours and adopted the resolution.
He said the CWC has decided to constitute internal committees to look into electoral performance and organisational matters.
About the Assembly polls results in Maharashtra, Venugopal said the electoral outcome in the state was "beyond normal understanding and it appears to be a clear case of targeted manipulation".
