Sebi fined 2 firms in April on investors' complaints

Market watchdog Sebi has imposed penalties totalling over Rs 2600000 on two companies this month alone for allegedly failing to redress investors' complaints. As per the latest information with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), the regulator has slapped a total monetary penalty of Rs 26.4300000 in the month of April.Individually, penalty has been imposed against Usha (India) Limited (Rs 26.3300000) and Dhampure Specialty Sugars Limited (Rs 10,000) for their alleged failure in resolving investor grievances.Last fiscal, 12 companies were penalised by Sebi for such offences, as against five the year before and three in 2010-11.The total penalty imposed in 2012-13 was at Rs 50.15 Lakh as against Rs 53.3000000 in 2011-12 and Rs 4300000 in 2010-11.Sebi said it imposed these monetary penalties against the companies "through adjudication proceedings for their failure to redress investor grievances".Besides, Sabero Organics Gujarat Limited had resolved all pending complaints against it and paid Rs 6.800000 as part of settlement fees to Sebi in 2012-13.Additionally, in the last fiscal, Sebi had barred four companies -- Shukla Data Technics, Top Telemedia, International Hometex and Alpine Industries and their respective directors from accessing the securities market for not resolving investor grievances.The regulator restrained these companies and their directors "from accessing the securities market and from buying, selling or dealing in securities directly or indirectly, in whatsoever manner, till all the investors' grievances against the company are resolved by them ".During 2011-12, Pantaloon Retail (India) Limited had redressed all pending complaints and paid Rs 7.500000 under consent.Also, the regulator had prohibited seven firms and 17 companies in 2011-12 and 2010-11 respectively from the security market for not resolving investor grievances.