As per The Economic Times report, On February 19, 2026, SEBI formally notified Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) and several senior executives that a show cause notice has been issued concerning alleged diversion of funds and breaches of corporate governance.
The notice, dated February 12, lists ZEEL, its Chairman Emeritus Subhash Chandra, CEO Punit Goenka and 84 other entities and individuals. SEBI alleges that fixed deposits belonging to ZEEL were used to settle loans of related Essel Group companies through Yes Bank.
The regulator also points to a Letter of Comfort dated September 4, 2018, which, according to SEBI, was known only to a limited group of managers and not disclosed to the ZEEL board.
The matter traces back to November 2019 when two directors, Subodh Kumar and Neharika Vohra, resigned from the board, raising concerns about the handling of the fixed deposits.
SEBI’s examination suggests that the Letter of Comfort was provided by Subhash Chandra in his capacity as chairman of both ZEEL and the Essel Group, facilitating credit facilities from Yes Bank for group entities.
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ZEEL has categorically denied all allegations and stated that a comprehensive reply will be filed with SEBI.
The company expressed confidence that SEBI will conduct a fair assessment of its response and indicated that it will pursue all necessary legal measures to protect shareholder interests.
As of February 20, 2026, at 9:19 AM, Zee Entertainment Enterprises share price on NSE was trading at ₹91.35 down by 1.46% from the previous closing price.
SEBI’s show cause notice highlights serious concerns about fund utilisation and governance at ZEEL. The company’s forthcoming reply and any subsequent actions will determine the regulatory outcome.
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Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.
Published on: Feb 20, 2026, 11:28 AM IST
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