New Delhi, Aug. 14 -- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) examined Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP (Deloitte) in 2024 over its role as the statutory auditor of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) regarding transactions made without board approval, said two people familiar with the matter. However, the regulator effectively gave Deloitte a clean chit in its final order on 31 July, ruling that the complete facts surrounding the unauthorized transaction were not known to the firm and that disclosure responsibility cannot be shifted to the auditor.

The case dates back to December 2018, when promoter Subhash Chandra signed a declaration and acknowledgement on behalf of ZEEL to deposit the title deeds of its Hyderabad property ...