Description

SEBI Appellate Authority order regarding RTI appeal by Shefali Lahoti against CPIO response on complaint information disclosure.

Summary

SEBI’s Appellate Authority issued an order on Appeal No. 6658 of 2026 filed by Shefali Lahoti challenging the CPIO’s response to her RTI application dated November 18, 2025. The appellant sought information regarding the status and actions taken on her complaint filed against Jah Ventures Angel Fund and Mr. Harshad Lahoti. The Appellate Authority upheld the CPIO’s decision, ruling that queries seeking confirmation/clarification do not constitute ‘information’ under Section 2(f) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Key Points

  • RTI application filed on November 18, 2025 regarding complaint filed on August 12, 2025 against Jah Ventures Angel Fund (DIN NO 02908456) and Mr. Harshad Lahoti
  • CPIO responded on December 12, 2025, refusing information on queries 3-9
  • Appeal filed on December 16, 2025 (Reg. No. SEBIH/A/E/25/00329)
  • Appellant sought confirmation on preliminary examination, prima facie violations, Violation Report (ViR) preparation, forwarding to other departments, and enforcement actions
  • CPIO refused queries 3-8 stating they seek clarification/confirmation, not information under RTI Act
  • Query 9 regarding officer details refused under Section 8(1)(g) as personal information
  • Appellate Authority concurred with CPIO that interrogative queries seeking yes/no confirmations do not qualify as ‘information’ under Section 2(f) of RTI Act

Regulatory Changes

No regulatory changes introduced. This is an administrative order clarifying the scope of information disclosure under the RTI Act, 2005 in relation to complaint handling procedures.

Compliance Requirements

No compliance requirements for market participants. This order pertains to RTI Act disclosure norms applicable to SEBI as a public authority.

Important Dates

  • August 12, 2025: Original complaint filed by appellant
  • November 18, 2025: RTI application filed
  • December 12, 2025: CPIO response issued
  • December 16, 2025: Appeal filed
  • January 8, 2026: Appellate Authority order issued

Impact Assessment

This order has no direct market impact or implications for listed entities, intermediaries, or investors. It is an internal administrative matter clarifying RTI disclosure obligations. The order reinforces that interrogative queries seeking confirmations do not constitute information requests under the RTI Act, and personal information of officials is protected under Section 8(1)(g). The decision affects only the individual appellant’s access to information regarding her specific complaint.

Impact Justification

Administrative RTI appeal matter with no market-wide regulatory impact or compliance requirements for market participants