Financial Technologies has contested CBI's charges of irregularities in grant of licence last year to its subsidiary MCX Stock Exchange. The CBI had accused Financial Technologies of entering into a buyback agreement with banks while reducing its stake to meet SEBI norms.

FTIL has quoted the Bombay High Court order to clarify that the “buy-back agreement cannot be held illegal as found in the impugned order of the Whole Time Member of SEBI on the ground that they constitute forward contacts.” Hence, the accusation of CBI does not hold ground, said the company.

Promoter not liable

On the CBI indictment for not disclosing the buyback agreement to the regulator at the time of application seeking extension of the MCX-SX licence, FTIL said the application was filed by the exchange and not by the promoter-company. Therefore, the promoter is not liable for the matter, it said.

MCX-SX was set up by FTIL and its commodity exchange arm MCX and began functioning as a full-fledged stock exchange last year after a prolonged battle with SEBI.

On Monday, CBI filed FIRs against three serving SEBI officials Muralidhar Rao, Executive Director; Vishakha More, Assistant General Manager and Rajesh Dangeti, Deputy General Manager. It also filed an FIR against former Executive Director JN Gupta besides FTIL promoter Jignesh Shah for alleged irregularities aimed at obtaining a licence to operate the stock exchange.

Shares of FTIL closed five per cent lower at ₹259 on Tuesday.

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