Former NSE chief Chitra Ramkrishna & Spirtual Guru’s Seychelles link under scanner

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A mention of travel to Seychelles, which is both a low tax jurisdiction and tourist hotspot, in the emails sent by the purported Spiritual Guru to former National Stock Exchange (NSE) chief Chitra Ramkrishna is being probed by the investigative agencies.</p>
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According to sources, the former head of the country's largest stock exchange, was questioned by the CBI at her Mumbai residence for over 12 hours over a market manipulation case. The questioning is taking place after the Income-Tax Department carried out a search of her premises.</p>
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A Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) report alleges that Ms Ramkrishna shared classified information including the financial and business plans of the NSE.</p>
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The report includes Ms Ramkrishna's response to SEBI on questions on her strange dependence on the spiritual guru and her email exchanges with him.</p>
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SEBI noted, based on the emails, that Ms Ramkrishna met this person "several times in 2015". She headed the stock exchange from 2013 to 2016.</p>
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While Ramkrishna has claimed the yogi lives in the Himalayas, she could not explain how the recluse could have accessed emails and corresponded regularly.</p>
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The SEBI order also discloses emails between the two.  An e-mail dated February 17, 2015, from the yogi said: "… keep bags ready I am planning a travel to Seychelles next month, will try if you can come with me, before Kanchan goes to London with Kaanchana and Barghava and you to New Zealand with two children. HK is a preferred transit or Singapore for onward journey. In case you need help pl let me know Seshu will do the needful. If you know swimming then we could enjoy a sea bath in Seychelles and rest in the beach. I am asking my tour operator to connect with Kanchan for all of our tickets."</p>
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In an e-mail on February 18, 2015, the "unknown person" wrote to Ms Ramkrishna: "Today you are looking Awesome. You must learn different ways to platt your hair which will make your looks interesting and appealing!! Just a free advice, I know you will grab this. Keep March mid a little free (sic)."</p>
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On February 25, 2015, the same sender wrote to Ms Ramkrishna: "…PS : I overheard with Kanchan when you said lets pack and leave, Get ready count down starts now I accommodate for Seychelles where you can chill it out."</p>
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Investigators are also looking into whether the email exchanges between Chitra Ramkrishna and the unidentified yogi could involve the use of coded language.</p>
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This puzzled the investigators since there were direct flights between India and Seychelles, a mere four-hour journey, from the end of 2014 but the guru wanted Ramkrishna to take an onward journey from Hong Kong or Singapore.</p>
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The names Kanchan and Kanchana in the emails could be coded reference to former NSE employee Anand Subramanian and his wife. The ‘two children’ could also be a code for something else. These questions have been left unanswered in the SEBI report.</p>
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CBI has also issued look out circulars against another former NSE chief Ravi Narain, Chitra Ramakrishna and Anand Subramanian, a former NSE employee considered close to her, to prevent them from leaving the country. Ramakrishna had appointed Subramanian as chief strategic officer at NSE with a huge salary of Rs 1.4 crore per annum which was later raised to Rs 4 crore raising many eyebrows at the time.</p>
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<strong>Also read: </strong> <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/economy-news/chitra-ramkrishna-as-nse-chief-was-a-puppet-in-hands-of-spiritual-guru-says-sebi-report-150319.html">Chitra Ramkrishna as NSE chief was a puppet in hands of ‘Spiritual Guru,’ says SEBI report</a></p>