₹20 Crore Scam: SEBI Cracks Down on Telegram Stock Tips

New Delhi: Seven relatives are under SEBI's scanner for allegedly running a sophisticated stock manipulation racket that netted them over ₹20 crore through coordinated social media campaigns. The family is accused of purchasing thinly traded SME shares, then flooding Telegram channels, WhatsApp groups, and X with buy recommendations to create sudden spikes in demand. SEBI's detailed probe revealed a clear pattern: the accused would accumulate positions quietly before releasing mass recommendations. Once retail investors piled in and prices climbed, the family would exit, pocketing substantial profits. The interim enforcement order states that 82 stocks were manipulated this way, with trading volumes and profits rising sharply during the investigation window. Raids in late January 2026 led to seizure of digital devices and recorded statements under oath. Data showed the family's combined trading value jumped 86 percent to ₹1,023 crore, while square-off gains ballooned by 242 percent. Two members, Rohan and Sharon Gupta, are believed to have reaped nearly half the total alleged profit. Regulators emphasize that these operations exploit information asymmetry and erode trust in social media stock advice. SEBI has vowed stricter monitoring of online tipsters targeting retail participants.