The Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”) has held that preventing and detecting fraud or market abuse is a key pillar of investor protection. Consequently, SEBI has been relentless in introducing and amending rules, regulations, and circulars to regulate practices tantamount to fraud or market abuse.Continue Reading Obligations placed on stockbrokers to curb fraud and money laundering
In the recent landmark ruling of Sita Soren vs. Union of India,[1] a constitution bench of the Supreme Court unanimously ruled on, inter alia, the liability of a Member of Parliament with respect to bribery under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (“PCA”), and the legislative immunity granted by the Constitution under Articles 105 and 194. This judgement overruled a long-standing position of law, laid down in PV Narasimha Rao vs. State (CBI/SPE ), which dealt with a Member of Parliament’s immunity from prosecution on charges of bribery in a criminal court.[2] This article analyses the position of anti-corruption provisions and its impact in view of the observations in Sita Soren.Continue Reading Sita Soren vs. Union of India: The Interplay between Anti-Corruption Laws and Legislative Immunity
US President Joe Biden signed the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act in December 2023 (“FEPA”), a federal criminal offense creating criminal liability on foreign officials who demand or accept bribes thus acting as a concomitant legislation to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (“FCPA”)[1]. While FCPA only criminalized/ prohibited US companies from offering or bribing foreign officials, the introduction of FEPA provides a level playing field for US companies and reverses criminal liability on foreign officials, mirroring FCPA.Continue Reading Interplay between Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (“FEPA”) & Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (“PC Act”)
Corruption and bribery[1] are often a cross-border phenomena. Accordingly, since the early 1990s, various countries around the world have joined global efforts to combat corruption collectively. Recently, European Union (“EU”) policymakers have decided to take that combat to the next level, increasing the collaboration between European Member States, and by harmonizing the European anti-bribery regime.Continue Reading EU’s Anti-Corruption Package: Insights and Recommendations for Indian Businesses
In the realm of law enforcement, transparency and accountability are indispensable pillars upholding the democratic values of a society. The Directorate of Enforcement (“ED”), tasked with investigating and prosecuting economic offenses, plays a vital role in maintaining financial integrity. However, concerns surrounding the lack of transparency in some of the arrests made by the ED have been raised.Continue Reading Ensuring Transparency: The Imperative of Mandatory Furnishing of Written Grounds of Arrest by the Enforcement Directorate
In the realm of law enforcement, transparency and accountability are indispensable pillars upholding the democratic values of a society. The Directorate of Enforcement (“ED”), tasked with investigating and prosecuting economic offenses, plays a vital role in maintaining financial integrity. However, concerns surrounding the lack of transparency in some of the arrests made by the ED have been raised.Continue Reading Ensuring Transparency: The Imperative of Mandatory Furnishing of Written Grounds of Arrest by the Enforcement Directorate
The recent escalation of United States (“US”) sanctions against Russia seems to have significant consequences for the Indian market. India has strong economic relationships with both the countries. At the moment, however, India seems to be caught between a ‘rock and a hard place’.[1] The country finds itself in a tricky minefield and it has to now balance its financial interests, along with its obligations to the international community.Continue Reading The Turning Tides of US Sanctions: India Caught in the Middle
The Reserve Bank of India (“RBI”) has proposed a transparent mechanism to identify and declare borrowers as Wilful Defaulters. The Central Bank issued the ‘Draft Master Direction on Treatment of Wilful Defaulters and Large Defaulters’ (“Master Direction” or “Direction”) on September 21, 2023, on which stakeholder comments have been invited till October 31, 2023.Continue Reading Draft Master Directions on Wilful Defaulters 2023: A Balanced Approach?
The Ministry of Finance issued a notification on September 04, 2023, to amend the Prevention of Money Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules, 2005 (“Rules”), to enhance clarity and stringency of money laundering prevention efforts. The amendment seeks to ensure stricter compliance by reporting authorities to keep a check on money laundering and terror financing.Continue Reading PMLA Second Amendment Rules, 2023: Plugging The Loophole