Trading Guru in Trouble: SEBI Raids Avadhut Sathe’s Karjat Academy in Finfluencer Crackdown (Photo credit: @Vivekketavath/Twitter)
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In a major crackdown on finfluencers, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) carried out search and seizure operations at trader and market educator Avadhut Sathe’s Karjat-based academy on August 20, according to a Moneycontrol report.
Officials, led by a SEBI deputy general manager, arrived at Sathe’s residence in the early hours of the day. The operation, which had been under preparation for months, continued till the evening of August 21. Trading records and digital devices were seized for forensic analysis, sources told the news outlet.
The regulator had sought court approvals in advance, conducted reconnaissance, and tracked Sathe’s movements before executing the raid, the report said.
Who Is Avadhut Sathe?
Avadhut Sathe, often referred to as a “trading guru,” runs the Karjat Trading Academy, designed as a residential “Gurukul” for retail investors. With over three decades of experience, he commands a sizeable following in India’s trading community. His YouTube channel has close to 9.4 lakh subscribers.
His courses focus on technical analysis, options strategies, trader psychology, and risk management, often stressing mindset and discipline in trading.
SEBI’s Warning on Influencers
Speaking at a FICCI event after the raid, SEBI whole-time member Kamlesh Chandra Varshney confirmed that the regulator had carried out “a big search operation on a big name in this industry.” Without naming Sathe, he said the action was intended to signal tougher enforcement against influencers who misguide retail traders.
According to Moneycontrol, SEBI had received complaints that certain trading academies allegedly colluded with operators to push penny stocks by showcasing them as examples in classrooms. Varshney cautioned that no educator can give stock calls, promise guaranteed returns, or trade live data without SEBI registration.
The Karjat raid forms part of SEBI’s broader crackdown on unregistered influencers and market educators who lure investors with quick-profit schemes.
