New Delhi, Aug. 19 -- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has barred Copthall Mauritius Investment Ltd and Mansi Share and Stock Broking Pvt Ltd from accessing the securities market and ordered them to deposit a combined Rs.3.68 crore over alleged manipulative trading during a Sensex closing auction session (CAS).This is the first time Sebi has launched formal proceedings against any entity trading in the auction session.

In an ex-parte interim order issued on Wednesday, the market regulator said that the two entities had manipulated the closing auction session on 13 August, which was a weekly Sensex expiry day for derivatives contracts on the bourse. Copthall has allegedly made an illegal gain of Rs.2.96 crore while Mansi ...