The recent action was prompted by several complaints alleging that penny stocks were being showcased and promoted during his training programs. These stocks were reportedly introduced as mere classroom illustrations, but the sessions often carried undertones of encouraging participants to actively invest in them. In response to such complaints, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) conducted a raid on the Karjat-based training academy of Pune’s popular financial influencer, Avadhut Sathe. This step, reported by ETNow, forms part of an expanding regulatory crackdown aimed at unregistered market educators who are suspected of misleading retail investors.
According to reports, the Sebi team executed a full-fledged search-and-seizure operation on August 20 at the premises of the Avadhut Sathe Trading Academy (ASTA). During the raid, the officials confiscated several digital devices along with trading-related data for further investigation. This intervention was not sudden but instead the result of a carefully orchestrated plan, spearheaded by a deputy general manager, that had been in the works for quite some time. Over the past few months, Sebi has ramped up its vigilance over financial influencers and trading mentors who operate without the necessary registration, particularly those promoting expensive training courses while subtly implying guaranteed returns or dispensing financial advice without authorization.
ETNow highlighted that this particular raid stands out as one of Sebi’s most high-profile actions against individuals in the rapidly growing online trading education space. The move signals that the regulator is becoming increasingly assertive in addressing misinformation and exaggerated claims that can mislead retail investors, thus showing its determination to safeguard market integrity and protect the investing public from unverified financial guidance.
Avadhut Sathe, currently 52 years old, is considered one of India’s most prominent and unconventional trading coaches. He is recognized not only for his reliance on technical analysis but also for his unique and theatrical style of teaching, often enlivening his sessions by dancing in the middle of lectures while pointing at stock market charts displayed on large screens, and frequently encouraging his students to join him in the act. Over the years, Sathe has established a wide-reaching presence by training more than 18,000 participants, many of whom come from middle-class families. His sessions are accessible in Hindi, Marathi, and English, making them popular among diverse groups of aspiring traders.
With an academic background in engineering and a deep-rooted passion for stock market trading, Sathe has built his reputation by presenting trading not only as a source of livelihood but also as a matter of national pride. Earlier this year, while speaking to The Economic Times, he described the financial markets as a modern-day battlefield where trading skills could serve as an individual’s most effective weapon. Raised in a modest chawl in Dadar before relocating to Mulund, Sathe began his professional journey as a software engineer. He initially worked at Hexaware Technologies and later gained international exposure through assignments in countries such as Singapore, Australia, and the United States. In 2007, he made the life-changing decision to quit his IT career entirely and commit himself fully to trading and teaching.
Starting in 2008 with a modest seminar attended by just a dozen participants, Sathe steadily built ASTA into one of the country’s largest retail trading academies. His courses, generally priced around Rs 18,000 per module, blend live trading demonstrations with structured mentorship and collaborative, team-based learning. Additionally, his YouTube channel, which boasts over 9.36 lakh subscribers, has extended his influence far beyond physical classrooms, reaching aspiring traders across the country.
Despite his popularity, regulators like Sebi have consistently issued warnings against unregistered financial educators who attract novice investors with exaggerated claims of quick and easy profits. The recent enforcement action directed at Sathe strongly suggests that Sebi is moving beyond mere cautionary statements and is now firmly committed to taking decisive, corrective steps against individuals and institutions suspected of engaging in such misleading practices.
