Axis MF front-running case: 30 Cr wrongfully gained, 21 entities banned

Capital markets regulator SEBI has passed an interim order in the Axis Mutual fund front-running case. 21 entities & individuals including Viresh Joshi, the former chief dealer of Axis mutual fund, are banned from buying, selling or dealing in the securities market. As per SEBI, over 30 crore was wrongfully gained through front-running activities and has said that this amount is to be impounded.

SEBI has termed this a "well-crafted manipulative scheme of front running" the trades of Axis Mutual fund and that Viresh Joshi 'glaringly abused his employment as a dealer with Axis MF" taking advantage of non-public information about impending orders the AMC, for his personal gains. These illegal trades were carried out during the period September 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022.

Joshi had the discretion to decide as to when the orders of Axis MF would be placed. The front-running of trades were executed from trading accounts of the entities and people indirectly connected to Joshi. The ill-gotten gains were then transferred to the bank account of a company, specially incorporated in Dubai on behalf of Joshi. Joshi's brother and father also went to Dubai to set up this company and were also named shareholders.

The order goes on to explain how Viresh Joshi exploited the norms of social distancing during the pandemic which allowed him to use a separate dealing room and circumvent the prohibition on usage of a mobile phone while in the dealing room during trading hours.

In its interim order, SEBI says, "There are ample prima facie evidences unearthed during the investigation which visibly demonstrate the the conduct of the Noticees while indulging in front running trades has been misleading and fraudulent in nature which has violated the integrity of the market and caused fraud on the investors causing irreparable injury to the secutrites market".

SEBI has also clarified that a number of parallel and separate proceedings involving different entities are in progress. These are at different stages of investigations. The present proceedings involve the front running of trades of Axis MF.

Axis Mutual Fund came under the front-running allegation in 2022 and later on sacked two officials including Viresh Joshi following an internal investigation.