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Madhabi Puri Buch

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Madhabi Puri Buch
Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 March 2022 (2022-03-01)
Preceded byAjay Tyagi[1]
Personal details
Born (1965-01-12) 12 January 1965 (age 59)
SpouseDhaval Buch[2]
Alma mater

Madhabi Puri Buch (b. 12 January 1965) is an Indian businesswoman who is the chairperson of the securities regulatory body in India, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). She is the first woman to lead SEBI, and the first person from the private sector to be appointed to this position.[3][4]

From April 2017 to March 2022, she functioned as a whole time member of SEBI, and was responsible for important regulatory orders. Buch has been credited with bringing rapid changes that improved the system as well as improved the efficiency of the regulatory body.[5]

In August 2024, Hindenburg Research, a short-selling activist firm, accused her and her husband of having a stake in dubious offshore entities used to artificially inflate shares of companies owned by the Adani Group.[6][7][8][9] They denied the claims.[10][11]

Education

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Buch was educated at Fort Convent School, Mumbai, and at Convent of Jesus and Mary, Delhi.[12] She graduated with a specialization in Mathematics from the St. Stephen's College, Delhi,[13] and later went on to obtain an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad.[14][15]

Career

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Corporate career

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Her career started in 1989 with ICICI Bank. Between 1993 and 1995, Buch worked as lecturer at West Cheshire College in England. She worked in various profiles across companies for 12 years, including sales, marketing and product development.[16] She also led operations. In 2006 she joined ICICI Securities and later went on to become their CEO from February 2009 to May 2011. After this, Buch moved to Singapore to join Greater Pacific Capital in 2011. Between 2011 and 2017 she worked in various capacities as executive director of many companies like Zensar Technologies, InnoVen Capital, and Max Healthcare. Buch also served as an independent director of the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM) and as consultant for New Development Bank (BRICS bank).[17]

Career at SEBI

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Madhabi Puri Buch sitting in front of the Indian flag, with her hands on a table
Madhabi Puri Buch as chairperson of SEBI

In April 2017, Buch was appointed as a whole time director at SEBI and given charge of portfolios like collective investment schemes, surveillance and investment management.[18] When her tenure ended, she was appointed to a seven-member technology committee formed to help SEBI design in-house technological systems. Known for her technology and data agnostic attitude, Buch has passed a few landmark regulatory orders. In 2018, she passed an order against the Sahara Group to return the Rs.14,000 crore raised from investors through fully convertible debentures. This was after they violated a SEBI order asking them to furnish the details of repayment to investors. In January 2021, Buch conducted a detailed investigation into insider trading by CNBC Awaaz journalist Hemant Ghai and barred him, his mother and wife from accessing the stock markets.[19][20] In May 2021, she passed an order against Savla and Ajitkumar for sharing unpublished price sensitive information of Deep Industries stock on the basis of their connection and interaction on social media platform.[21] In August 2021, she identified 15 entities trading in unfair practices in the Zee Entertainment Enterprises stock post its results announcements.[22]

On 1 March 2022, Buch was appointed as the SEBI chairperson for a period of 3 years. She replaced Ajay Tyagi.[23][1] Joining SEBI at a challenging time, Buch was questioned by the parliamentary committee in reference to the NSE co-location scam.[24] Being a person from the private sector herself, Buch decided to undertake an overhaul of the organization to improve productivity, enhance accountability and improve fairness at SEBI.[25] In her first 100 days as chairperson, she has brought about rapid changes in the organization, processes and regulation of the markets. Buch introduced the corporate system of KRAs to drive focused action on areas that needed attention. She emphasized on cyber security and use of technology and data. She has driven the process of seeking extensive market feedback on any key policy changes. Observers say that Buch has put onus on intermediaries to make changes to their systems to evolve with market dynamics. When she took over, the securities market in India followed a T+2 clearance process. She pushed custodians and clearing corporations to gear up for the T+1 and T+0 clearance process, which would lead to investors receiving their money and shares faster. In 2024, the T+0 settlement system was introduced in a phased manner.[26] Buch also sought additional powers from the government to monitor social media channels to crack down on front running in the markets.[5]

Controversies

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In August 2024, Hindenburg Research, a short-selling activist firm, accused Puri Buch and her husband of having a stake in offshore entities which invested money into India. They alleged that these same funds, managed by IIFL Wealth, were used by Vinod Adani to artificially inflate shares of companies owned by the Adani Group.[8] This put Buch into the spotlight, since SEBI had previously faced difficulties in finding out the beneficial owners of similar off-shore funds that had invested in Adani companies.[27][28][29]

The couple refuted the allegations made against them and said that all disclosures have already been furnished to SEBI over the years.[10][11] They also issued a statement a day after the report was released, detailing that the fund did not invest in any securities involving the Adani Group when they were invested, and that they had invested in the fund since the fund manager was a close friend.[30][31] Buch termed Hindenburg’s allegations an attempt at “character assassination” after the regulator’s enforcement action and “show cause” notice to the short seller for violating Indian rules.[32]

Adani Group calls the claims "malicious, mischievous".[33] India's Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, asked Buch to resign.[34][35]

After a few days, the Indian National Congress accused Buch of receiving rental income from a company SEBI was investigating.[36][37] It has also alleged as she had continued to earn significant amounts of money through her vested employee stock option plans (ESOPs) of ICICI Bank, long after she had left the company.[38][39] In the same month, Subhash Chandra Goenka of Zee Entertainment Enterprises blamed her for the collapse of a merger between his company and Sony India.[40][41]

In September 2024, around 1000 staff members of SEBI staged a rare protest outside the regulator’s headquarters demanding Buch’s resignation. They complained of a toxic work culture in a letter to the finance ministry.[42][43]

In November 2024, Gautam Adani and his associates were charged by the New York district court for bribing Indian government officials to get favourable energy contracts. Rahul Gandhi reacted by demanding Adani's arrest and a probe against Puri. [44]

Personal life

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Buch was born in 1966 as Madhabi Puri to Kamal Puri and his wife.[45] Her father worked for the corporate sector while her mother was an academic with doctorate in political science.[46] At the age of eighteen she got engaged to Dhawal Buch who was a director at FMCG multinational, Unilever. They got married when she turned 21 and subsequently gave birth to her son, Abhay. Buch says she owes much of her success to her son and her husband who has been her friend, philosopher and guide.[47][2]

Buch was one of the survivors of the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks. She was with her husband at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel who was attending a Unilever meeting at that time.[48][49]

References

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  1. ^ a b Shah, Palak (2022-03-02). "Madhabi Puri Buch replaces Ajay Tyagi as SEBI chief". Business Line. Archived from the original on 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2024-08-10. Madhabi Puri Buch, who will take over the reins of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Tuesday from outgoing chairman Ajay Tyagi
  2. ^ a b "Who is Dhaval Buch, SEBI chairperson's husband named in Hindenburg report?". Hindustan Times. 2024-08-10. Archived from the original on 2024-08-10. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  3. ^ "Who is Madhabi Puri Buch?". Business Standard India. Archived from the original on 2022-04-25. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  4. ^ Mishra, Lalatendu (2022-03-06). "Madhavi Puri Buch". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 2022-03-06. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  5. ^ a b Modak, Samie. "How Madhabi Puri Buch Is Changing Sebi". Rediff. Archived from the original on 2022-06-21. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  6. ^ Upadhyay, Jayshree P (2024-09-13). "India market regulator chief says she complied with all required disclosures". Reuters. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  7. ^ Desk, DH Web (2024-08-11). "Who is Madhabi Puri Buch, Sebi chief accused by Hindenburg Research of having stakes in obscure offshore funds used in Adani 'scandal'?". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2024-11-21. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ a b "Whistleblower Documents Reveal SEBI's Chairperson Had Stake In Obscure Offshore Entities Used In Adani Money Siphoning Scandal". Hindenburg Research. 2024-08-10. Archived from the original on 2024-08-10. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  9. ^ Shukla, Nikhil Inamdar & Archana (2024-09-09). "Madhabi Puri Buch: Allegations mount against India market regulator". BBC Home. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  10. ^ a b "SEBI chief Madhabi Buch, husband deny Hindenburg charge as 'baseless'; Adani Group says allegations 'malicious, mischievous'". The Hindu. 2024-08-10. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 2024-08-10. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  11. ^ a b "Sebi chief, husband reject Hindenburg allegations: 'Our life and finances are an open book'". The Times of India. 2024-08-11. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  12. ^ "Who is Madhabi Puri Buch, the first woman to head market regulator Sebi?". cnbctv18.com. 28 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Who is Madhabi Puri Buch, the first woman to head market regulator Sebi?". CNBC TV18. 2022-02-28. Archived from the original on 2024-03-17. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  14. ^ Gawande, Jayshree P. Upadhyay,Priyanka (2022-02-28). "Know the Sebi chairperson, Madhabi Puri Buch". Mint. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2022-04-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "All you want to know about Madhabi Puri Buch, the first-ever woman to head SEBI". GQ India. 2022-02-28. Archived from the original on 2022-04-28. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  16. ^ Vanamali, Krishna Veera (2022-03-02). "Who is Madhabi Puri Buch, the new SEBI chief?". Business Standard India. Archived from the original on 2022-05-30. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
  17. ^ "Who is Madhabi Puri Buch, the first woman to head market regulator Sebi?". CNBCTV18. 2022-02-28. Archived from the original on 2022-04-28. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  18. ^ "Who is Madhabi Puri Buch, the first female head of SEBI?". Business Today (India). 28 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  19. ^ "SEBI Confirms Ban Order against CNBC Awaaz Ex-Co-host Hemant Ghai, His Wife and Mother". Moneylife NEWS & VIEWS. Archived from the original on 2022-04-28. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  20. ^ "SEBI debars host of CNBC Awaaz show". Sify. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  21. ^ Zachariah, Reena. "Sebi order kicks off storm; social media links can't prove insider trading". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 2022-04-28. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  22. ^ "3 most striking orders issued by new SEBI chief Madhabi Buch". Moneycontrol. 28 February 2022. Archived from the original on 2024-09-09. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  23. ^ "SEBI | Former Chairmen / WTMs of SEBI". SEBI. Archived from the original on 2024-08-02. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  24. ^ "SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch likely to be questioned on NSE scam by parliamentary panel". The New Indian Express. 3 April 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-04-28. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  25. ^ Upadhyay, Jayshree P. (2022-05-30). "Sebi's Buch taps pvt sector experience to boost productivity". Live mint. Archived from the original on 2022-05-30. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
  26. ^ Nagasundaram, Dhanya (2024-03-28). "T+0 settlement kick starts today. What does it mean? How does it affect you?". Live mint. Archived from the original on 2024-03-28. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  27. ^ Mukherjee, Andy (12 August 2024). "Hindenburg Steps Up for Adani Round Two. With SEBI". bloomberg.com. Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 13 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  28. ^ "SC rejects plea to review its January verdict upholding SEBI probe into Adani-Hindenburg case". thehindu.com. The Hindu. 15 July 2024. Archived from the original on 13 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  29. ^ Dr Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, Chief Justice of India (2024-01-03). "Judgement in Vishal Tiwari vs Union of India & Ors" (PDF). Supreme Court of India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-04-17. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  30. ^ "Hindenburg-Adani Case: SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch, husband's 15-point rebuttal to allegations, 'attempting to attack'". Mint. 2024-08-11. Archived from the original on 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  31. ^ "Hindenburg vs SEBI: Madhabi Puri Buch, husband issue detailed rebuttal against allegations". The Hindu. 2024-08-11. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  32. ^ "$2.4 billion wiped off Adani shares after Hindenburg allegations against regulator". Reuters. 2024-08-12. Archived from the original on 2024-08-12. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  33. ^ "SEBI chief Madhabi Buch, husband deny Hindenburg charge as 'baseless'; Adani Group says allegations 'malicious, mischievous'". The Hindu. 2024-08-10. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 2024-08-10. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  34. ^ "'If investors lose their…': Rahul Gandhi targets SEBI's Madhabi Puri Buch, PM Modi and Adani over Hindenburg allegations". Mint. Livemint. 11 August 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  35. ^ "Rahul Gandhi warns of stock market risk after new Hindenburg report on SEBI chief: 'Umpire is compromised'". The Hindustan Times. 11 August 2024. Archived from the original on 13 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  36. ^ "Sebi Chief Madhabi Puri Buch got rental income from firm under probe: Congress". The Economic Times. 2024-09-06. ISSN 0013-0389. Archived from the original on 2024-09-07. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  37. ^ "SEBI chief Madhabi Buch faces conflict of interest allegations, Congress questions PM's inaction". The Hindu. 2024-09-06. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 2024-09-07. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  38. ^ "SEBI Chief Madhabi Buch questioned by Congress over ICICI Bank payments, discrepancies in salary, and ESOPs post-retirement". The Hindu. 2024-09-03. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 2024-09-09. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  39. ^ Joshi, Neha; Sood, Varun (2024-09-05). "Mint Explainer: Sebi's Madhabi Puri Buch and the fuss over her ICICI payouts". Mint. Archived from the original on 2024-09-09. Retrieved 2024-09-09. Congress party politician Pawan Khera has alleged that the chairperson of India's equity and commodities market regulator, Madhabi Puri Buch, received ₹16.8 crore in benefits from her ex-employer ICICI Group. ICICI Bank Ltd and Buch have denied the allegations. But Khera has intensified his charges, alleging that Buch's post-retiral benefits from ICICI Group were higher than the salary she drew from the private lender.
  40. ^ Shekhar, Roshni; Tiwari, Khushboo (2024-09-02). "'Sebi chairperson Buch is corrupt', alleges Zee's Subhash Chandra". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 2024-09-09. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  41. ^ "Subhash Chandra levels allegations against SEBI chief". The Times of India. 2024-09-02. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 2024-09-09. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  42. ^ Inamdar, Nikhil; Shukla, Archana (2024-09-09). "Madhabi Puri Buch: Allegations mount against India market regulator". BBC. Mumbai. Archived from the original on 2024-09-09. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  43. ^ Das, Koustav (2024-09-09). "Caught in a whirlwind: Sebi's Madhabi Puri Buch faces mounting scrutiny". India Today.
  44. ^ Nair, Preetha (2024-11-21). "Rahul Gandhi demands Adani's immediate arrest after US indictment, probe against Sebi chief Buch". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  45. ^ "Who is Madhabi Puri Buch, the new SEBI chief?". Business Standard. 2022-03-02. Archived from the original on 2022-07-07. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  46. ^ "'I always wanted to be able to make a difference'". Rediff. Archived from the original on 2022-08-10. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  47. ^ "Madhavi Puri Buch: Sebi's new boss knows how to go off the beaten path". Bulls Trade. 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2022-04-28.[permanent dead link‍]
  48. ^ "Madhavi Puri Buch: Sebi's new boss knows how to go off the beaten path". Financial Express. 2022-03-01. Archived from the original on 2022-04-28. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  49. ^ "The new chairperson of market regulator SEBI: Madhabi Puri Buch, biography, Family, Education, Career and Contact". Dainik Jagran. Archived from the original on 2022-05-19. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
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