SEBI employees protest at Mumbai HQ a day after regulator says unprofessional work culture claims 'misplaced'

On Thursday, disgruntled SEBI employees staged a silent protest outside the regulator’s Mumbai headquarters, demanding the withdrawal of a recent statement blaming "external forces" for their grievances and calling for the resignation of Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch.

The protest followed a report by The Economic Times revealing that SEBI officials had filed an unprecedented complaint with the finance ministry last month, accusing top leadership of fostering a toxic work culture. In response, SEBI issued a press release on Wednesday claiming that external elements were misleading staff on HRA issues to damage the regulator's credibility.

The employees' protest, amplified by media coverage, has raised concerns about potential disciplinary actions from SEBI’s management, which could impact the regulator’s efficiency and responsibilities.