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The Original CHAUKIDAAR ,“TAKEOVER WATCHMAN” since 2007. CA. Arun Goenka* hands-on experience in the share market* deep knowledge of laws and account*one of the early players, pioneered an investment strategy in TAKEOVERS*The WIRC - of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, has honoured him with the ‘Recognition of CAs in Social Service’. * often invited by National business news; electronic and print media, for his views on SEBI related matters. * history of red-flagging 100+ cases to SEBI* contributes by giving inputs in drafting amendments to the regulation* Some of the suggestions reflected in subsequent regulatory changes: (a). In takeover of Cairn 3,750 Crores non-compete fees waived off and ultimately Removal of Non-compete fee in 2011 (b) November 2009 amending Regulation 11 (1). (c)Listing agreement baring promoters from voting on related party. (d) Disclosure of past performance by merchant bankers in case of IPO (e) SAST 2011 regulation 10(1)(h), (f) Counter Offer in case of Delisting (g) Interest payment to all in case of delays in Open Offers(05.06.20).

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

SEBI ORDER PENDING FOR BEES SAAL, 2 DECADES - TAKEOVER OF POLO HOTELS LTD.


SMALL INVESTORS’ WELFARE ASSOCIATION
Regn No. F-72744 (M)
With a legacy of 25 years of investor protection services

TEXT OF LETTER WRITTEN TO SEBI
Sub. IMPLEMENTATION OF YOUR ORDER DATED 1ST AUGUST 2003 POLO HOTELS LTD.

SEBI order of 1st  August  2003 having been upheld at all the forums right up to the Supreme Court has not yet been implemented. The biggest challenge in front of SEBI is to get this order implemented and mitigate the sufferings of small shareholders who are suffering for no fault of theirs. On top of this, the practice of allowing the defaulters to pay interest only to the original shareholders has cut the liberties of the poor shareholders to use their own savings for their personal emergency. The case of the biggest non-promoter shareholder  is a great example. he is an highly decorated soldier, now aged about 75 and sick. He is an spinster  and leaves alone at Chandigarh with no one to take care of him. He had invested huge amount in the then most happening hotel company in his city –POLO HOTELS LTD.  He has been holding the shares from a date prior to its takeover. Today, he is living on borrowed money as his investment of crores in Polo Hotels Ltd. is stuck. Because of old age and no personal support/ assistance he often falls down and at times gets admitted to the military hospital, not only for treatment but also for convalescence, since he cannot afford any nurse etc. at home, inspite of crores of Rupees invested in shares of Polo Hotels Ltd.

He cannot sell the shares in Polo Hotels Ltd.  because of fear of losing out on substantial amount to be received as interest for the period of delay; simple interest amount @ 15% ( as per SEBI order dated 01.08.03),for 20 years would be whopping 300% !!! .

The I have been requesting SEBI to implement the offer out of funds from IPEF and after recovery from the acquirers the amount can be replenished. SEBI has, no doubt, passed some very strong and path breaking orders  including the one for disgorgement of  Rs. 11,82,32,526  yet the investors’  misery has not reduced. All the actions by SEBI till date have failed to provide any relief to investors who are suffering for more than 2 decades. The offer is still pending for more than 20 years. 

Some of the orders passed against  the promoters of Polo Hotels Ltd. By SEBI, SAT and

Supreme Court

ORDERS PASSED BY SEBI

Date

Regulation Violated

  Amount 

1-Aug-03

Make a fresh Open Offer  @ 23.75 with interest @ 15% from 16.11.99.

 

28-Feb-19

Insider trading

           200,000

28-Feb-19

Insider trading

           800,000

3-Jun-19

Directions to deposit Rs. 11,94,40,359 for the Open Offer

 11,94,40,359

17-Jul-19

Recovery/ Attachment proceedings No. 4631/2019 Abhey Ram Dahiya

           837,559

29-Nov-19

Violation of Reg.3(2) & 10(6) of SAST 2011 Penalty for allotment of 88,88,889 shares on 09.12.16

      11,500,000

27-Feb-20

SEBI imposed a Penalty of 24 lakhs for non-compliance of its order dated 03.06.19

        2,400,000

9-Mar-20

Disgorgement order

   118,232,526

 

ORDERS PASSED BY SAT

19-Apr-06

SAT order  uphelding SEBI order ("First SAT order")

29-Aug-17

(SAT Appeal no. 205 of 2017),  (“Second SAT Order”) dismissed with cost Rs.50,000/-

15-Feb-19

(Appeal no. 192 of 2018 and Misc. Applications no. 195 of 2018 and 205 of 2018), (“Third SAT Order”) Cost 50,000

ORDERS PASSED BY SUPREME COURT

26-Nov-15

SC upheld the  SEBI order. (Civil Appeal No. 2727 of 2006) First SC Order

13-Jul-16

(“Second Supreme Court Order”) (Review Petition (C) No. 2361 of 2016), which dismissed the same vide an Order dated July 13, 2016 .

2-Mar-17

 (“Third Supreme Court Order”) (Curative Petition (C) No. 66 of 2017), which dismissed the same vide an Order dated March 2, 2017

5-Apr-19

(Civil Appeal no. 2377 of 2019), dismissed (“Fourth Supreme Court Order”). Subsequent to the aforementioned, the Acquirers vide a letter dated April 16, 2019, informed SEBI that they had filed a Review Application before the Hon’ble Supreme Court.

 

In the interest of small shareholders, SEBI should implement the offer on behalf of the acquirerout of the enormous amount of funds lying  in the IPEF, subsequently the amount can be recovered and the cash balance replenished in the IPEF.

 

We sincerely urge you to please use the huge amount available with IPEF for the purpose it was originally created -- INVESTOR PROTECTION, rather than allowing it to become just an another source of funds collection for the GOI. Your providing such relief will make the creation and existence of SEBI more meaningful and truthful ;every investor will agree that SEBI is really  “ HER INVESTOR KI TAQAT

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