Markets regulator Sebi has barred EKI Energy Services Ltd and its Managing Director Manish Kumar Dabkara from the securities market for two months and 12 months respectively, for misrepresenting financial statements of the carbon credits trading firm and diverting funds. According to reports from The Hindu BusinessLine and ETMarkets, the regulator has also restrained the company's former Chief Financial Officer Mohit Kumar Agarwal from the securities market for eight months, while whole-time directors Naveen Sharma and Sonali Sheikh have been prohibited for five months and one month respectively. Sebi has imposed monetary penalties totalling ₹88 lakh on the company and other individuals for various violations of securities market regulations.
In its 94-page final order, Sebi noted that EKI had prematurely recognised revenue aggregating ₹197.04 crore during the first three quarters of FY23, thereby misrepresenting its financial performance to investors. As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine and ETMarkets, the regulator observed that "EKI's publication and continued disclosure of prematurely recognised revenue of ₹197.04 crore constituted reckless financial misrepresentation connected with investor decisions concerning its listed shares." The regulator found that EKI had overstated expenses by ₹26.34 crore during FY22 and FY23, resulting in an understatement of its profits. The company diverted ₹26.34 crore by overstating expenses during 2021-22 and 2022-23, with Sebi noting that EKI had "booked fictitious expenses against services not rendered" and that payments made against such expenses "consequently constituted diversion of EKI's funds."
According to The Hindu BusinessLine and ETMarkets, Sebi imposed a penalty of ₹12 lakh on EKI Energy Services, ₹28 lakh on Dabkara, ₹13 lakh on Sharma, ₹6 lakh on Sheikh and ₹19 lakh on Agarwal. The regulator also imposed monetary penalties on independent directors Ritesh Gupta and Burhanuddin Ali Husain Maksi Wala, besides former compliance officer Itisha Sahu. Sebi levied a fine of ₹2 lakh on Sahu and ₹4 lakh each on Gupta and Burhanuddin Ali Husain Maksi Wala. The entities have been directed to pay the penalties within 45 days.
As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine and ETMarkets, Sebi noted that Dabkara was responsible for the continued disclosure of misstated financial information and failure to ensure proper monitoring of the company's financial reporting systems. The regulator held Sharma, Sheikh, and Agarwal liable for regulatory violations. The markets regulator has also directed Dabkara to take immediate steps to recoup the amount diverted from EKI Energy Services.
