Priority is to recover money: NSEL promoter Jignesh Shah

National Spot Exchange promoter Jignesh Shah today said the commodity bourse, which is engulfed in a Rs 5,600 crore payment crisis, is doing everything to recover money from 23 borrowers and settle investors' accounts.

"We are committed to recover money... We are not sitting quiet... We will do everything to recover money. The whole focus should be on 23 borrowers because money trail is up to them. As a promoter, we are not at all a beneficiary, as campaign is going on," he said after meeting Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram.

Mr. Mayaram later told reporters that "if there is breach of law then guilty will be punished".

Shah said: "we have started investigation... Strictest possible action will be taken... Nobody will be spared. We will be more vigil". He also said that new directors would be inducted on the NSEL board.

NSEL, part of Shah-led Financial Technologies group, was set up to provide a nationwide electronic platform for spot trading in various commodities. It is being probed by various agencies for suspected violations of regulations in the commodities markets and tax laws after NSEL defaulted on payments totalling more than Rs 5,500 crore.

Mr. Shah further said that it was time to focus on recovering money rather than running down the enterprise.

"Lot of personal allegations have been made but I just want to say that I have built my enterprise in 25 years; nobody will do anything wrong to finish that brand," he said.

On whether he would step down from MCX, Mr. Shah said: "If I will be asked to step down, then let it be handled at that time. Right now our sole focus is investors".

Mr. Mayaram, meanwhile, also met members of the NSEL Investors Forum.

"We informed the government how we have been cheated. Mr. Mayaram very patient heard us. He said he is going through the report and then he will take strict action. We believe in the government," forum's secretary Arun Kumar Dalmia said.

According to him, the secretary "also realises" that fraud has taken place.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) in its report submitted to the Finance Ministry last week has indicated that the crisis-ridden bourse may have violated money laundering laws and a few foreign exchange procedures.

A panel of secretaries, headed by Mr. Mayaram, is likely to meet on September 18 to review developments at the payment crisis-hit exchange.