Anil Ambani Faces ₹1,828 Crore Penalty! SEBI Rejects Settlement Plea in Yes Bank Case

New Delhi: Market regulator SEBI has rejected the plea filed by industrialist Anil Ambani seeking to settle allegations related to investments in Yes Bank. As a result, he may face a penalty of at least ₹1,828 crore. The case pertains to an investment of ₹2,150 crore made by Reliance Mutual Fund (which was under Ambani’s control) in Yes Bank’s Additional Tier-1 bonds between 2016 and 2019. These bonds were written off in 2020 when Yes Bank became insolvent.

SEBI stated that this investment was made in exchange for loans given by Yes Bank to other companies within the Ambani group, causing a loss of ₹1,828 crore to investors. Reliance Mutual Fund was sold to Nippon Life Insurance in 2019, but the allegations concern the period when the fund was under Ambani’s control. Last month, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at Ambani group premises investigating the alleged misappropriation of ₹3,000 crore loan from Yes Bank.

SEBI’s 2024-25 annual report highlighted that recovering dues of around ₹77,800 crore is challenging, and the regulator has increased market surveillance. With the rise of algorithmic trading and digital platforms, SEBI has tightened compliance and intensified monitoring of insider trading and irregular transactions.

SEBI has asserted that the case is serious and cannot be settled through a compromise. It plans to proceed with legal action against Anil Ambani and may order compensation to investors along with imposing monetary penalties. This case also has potential implications including market bans and disqualifications from holding positions in financial institutions.

In summary, the regulator’s firm stance means Anil Ambani is likely to face substantial penalties and the case could escalate further with criminal investigations if money laundering is involved.