The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has taken stringent action against Avadhut Sathe and his trading academy, impounding ₹546 crore and barring them from participating in the securities market for offering unregistered investment advisory services. The regulator said that the Avadhut Sathe Trading Academy (ASTAPL), which marketed itself as an educational platform, provided subscribers with stock recommendations, stop-loss levels, and portfolio guidance, services that require proper SEBI registration.
The SEBI order covers the period between July 2017 and October 2025. According to the regulator, the academy misused its platform to give actionable market advice under the guise of education. Evidence collected included video recordings, chat logs, and online interactions showing that participants executed trades based on the advice provided. SEBI determined that the gains earned by Sathe and the academy through these activities, which reportedly amount to over ₹600 crore in fees, were unlawful and constituted illegal profits.
As part of its directive, SEBI has barred Sathe and his academy from buying, selling, or dealing in securities. They are also prohibited from offering any advisory or research services, including those disguised as educational content. The use of live market data, showcasing returns, or advertising participant profits to attract subscribers is strictly forbidden.
This marks one of the largest enforcement actions by SEBI against a “finfluencer”, an individual leveraging social media or digital platforms to give financial advice. The regulator’s move serves as a stern warning to others providing stock-market tips or research guidance without SEBI registration.
SEBI emphasized that the order aims to protect retail investors from misleading promises of quick profits. Investors are advised to be cautious when following trading courses or financial influencers and to verify regulatory credentials before acting on investment advice.
This action reinforces SEBI’s commitment to ensuring transparency and compliance in India’s securities market, particularly in the rapidly growing digital advisory and trading education space.