New Delhi: Capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has sought information from Jet Airways (India) Ltd following a complaint of alleged fraudulent practices.
In a filing to the stock exchanges on Wednesday, Jet Airways said Sebi had last month sought views of the statutory auditors and the audit committee on certain allegations. However, the airline did not elaborate on the complaint. The disclosure came in response to a clarification sought by the BSE on reports about alleged fraudulent practices by Jet Airways promoter Naresh Goyal and fall in its share prices.
Referring to the reports, Jet Airways said similar allegations had earlier been communicated to it by Sebi in June 2016, based on a complaint received by the regulator. “The company had provided its response to Sebi in July 2016. No further communication was then received from Sebi in the matter,” the filing said.
Further, the airline said that in a communication on 30 April 2018, Sebi forwarded to the company “another complaint received by it” containing substantially similar allegations. The regulator also sought the views/recommendations of the statutory auditors and the audit committee of the company on the same, it added. “The company has already taken necessary steps in this regard as directed by Sebi and is in communication with Sebi in the matter,” the filing said.
There was no immediate response from a Jet Airways spokesperson on the issue.
After posting a Rs1,036 crore loss in the three months ended 31 March 2018, mainly due to high oil prices and weaker rupee, Jet Airways last week said that it may see a rise in debt for the next one or two quarters.
Shares of Jet Airways rose nearly 2% to Rs427.30 in late morning trade on the BSE.
Earlier this week, ratings agency Icra Ltd lowered its credit ratings on Jet Airways’ short-term and long-term loan facilities citing weakened financial performance as the airline is unable to pass on rise in jet fuel prices to the customers.