SEBI Bars 26 From Markets Over Price Manipulation In SME Stock DU Digital

SEBI has barred 26 individuals from the securities market for up to two years after finding coordinated price manipulation in SME-listed DU Digital Technologies.

The regulator ordered disgorgement of ₹98.78 lakh with 12% interest and imposed penalties totalling ₹1.87 crore.

The action followed a sharp rise of nearly 1,393% in DU Digital’s share price between August 2021 and March 2023, which triggered a detailed probe. SEBI found that the entities used deceptive trading strategies to artificially inflate price and trading volumes, rejecting claims that the transactions were genuine delivery-based investments.

The order underscores heightened regulatory scrutiny over market manipulation on SME platforms.