Last Updated:
Avadhut Sathe is a financial influencer and trading educator known for his flamboyant teaching methods — dancing mid-lecture, using giant charts, and motivational sessions.
Avadhut Sathe.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) conducted a meticulously planned two-day raid on Pune-based financial influencer Avadhut Sathe’s Karjat-based academy from August 20 to 21, according to Business Standard. The operation, led by a deputy general manager and supported by prior court permissions and reconnaissance, resulted in the confiscation of digital devices, trading records, and other materials for forensic analysis.
Sathe has come under Sebi’s lens due to unregistered advisory services, according to NDTV Profit citing sources. It added that illegal gains from his operations is likely to be in the range of Rs 400-500 crore
This move is part of a broader Sebi crackdown on unregistered “finfluencers” providing investment advice under the guise of education, and potentially engaging in manipulative practices such as promoting penny stocks.
Sebi has emphasised that giving stock recommendations or guaranteed returns without proper registration is strictly prohibited — even under educational pretences.
Who Is Avadhut Sathe?
Avadhut Sathe is a financial influencer and trading educator known for his flamboyant teaching methods — dancing mid-lecture, using giant charts, and delivering motivational stock market sessions. He heads the Avadhut Sathe Trading Academy (ASTA) and commands a strong retail following through his YouTube channel with over 900,000 subscribers.
Sathe claims to have three decades of trading experience and has turned his ASTA programmes into a national training network.
ASTA did not just stop at training. Sathe also advised students on penny stocks and provided other tips over private WhatsApp groups, according to Moneycontrol.
Sathe’s dramatic rise — marked by theatrical teaching, live stock market sessions, and motivational coaching — had earned him popularity but also regulatory attention. Sebi’s intensified oversight reflects increasing concern about retail investors being misled by unregulated influencers.
Avadhut Sathe Case: All You Need To Know
The operation was meticulously planned, with Sebi securing court approvals beforehand and conducting surveillance to track activity patterns. Authorities seized digital devices, trading records, and other relevant data for forensic examination, according to sources cited by Moneycontrol.
Although Sebi has not publicly named anyone, Kamlesh Chandra Varshney, Sebi’s whole-time member, confirmed at a FICCI event that the regulator had executed “a major search operation targeting a prominent figure in this industry.” He said the action is part of Sebi’s ongoing efforts to crack down on market influencers who mislead retail investors under the pretext of education.
Varshney highlighted that promising guaranteed returns, providing trading calls in classroom settings, and using live trading data without proper Sebi registration is illegal, as reported by CNBC-TV18. He added that the regulator is stepping up enforcement against such practices.
Media reports indicate that Sebi is also investigating claims that some trading academies may be colluding with market operators to manipulate penny stocks, with influencers allegedly promoting these low-value shares during training sessions to artificially boost prices.
Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h…Read More
Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h… Read More
Read More
