Mumbai, Maharashtra: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) banned YouTuber Ravindra Balu Bharti and his company, Ravindra Bharti Education Institute, for operating an unregistered investment advisory business. They have been prohibited from participating in the securities market until April 4, 2025. SEBI has also ordered them to return Rs 9.5 crore that they earned through illegal activities.
During its investigation, the regulatory body found that Bharti and his company had persuaded inexperienced investors into the stock market with unregistered investment advice, trade recommendations, and execution services.
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The YouTuber reportedly used his significant influence to promote risky investments to his 19 lakh followers.
According to a Times of India report, Bharti’s company marketed “high returns” while failing to inform them of the associated risks and functioning without a SEBI registration.
Reportedly, the company used manipulative tactics, including selling various investment plans to individual investors, restricting their decision-making autonomy.
Ravindra Balu Bharti is the founder of Ravindra Bharti Education Institute Pvt. Ltd. (RBEIPL), a company he co-founded in 2016 with his wife, Shubhangi Bharti.
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RBEIPL engages in educational activities related to stock market trading, operating through a website titled “Bharti Share Market,” according to reports.
The regulatory body has also banned Bharti and his company from offering investment advisory services without the necessary SEBI registration. An additional penalty of Rs 10 lakh has been levied on Bharti and his associates.