Moneylife News Bites

Debt Traps on Your Phone: The Dark Side of Loan Apps

Digital lending apps promised instant loans and financial convenience. Instead, many borrowers are falling into devastating debt traps. In this audio, Sucheta Dalal explains how app-based lenders are charging exorbitant interest rates, trapping borrowers in endless EMIs and using aggressive recovery tactics. From hidden charges and misleading APR disclosures to harassment, blackmail and regulatory loopholes, the crisis is growing rapidly across India. The cases highlighted by Moneylife Foundation reveal how ordinary salaried workers, professionals and delivery executives are drowning in debt far beyond their repayment capacity. Watch this detailed analysis on India’s digital lending crisis, RBI regulations, NBFC partnerships and the urgent need for stronger enforcement. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Bonds, Barrels and Bulls

What happens when soaring US bond yields, rising oil prices and a weakening rupee collide? In this sharp analysis, Debashis Basu explains why global events—from the closure of the Hormuz Strait to rising US Treasury yields—could create serious economic pressure for India. The audio breaks down how expensive crude oil, inflation, currency depreciation and rising bond yields are interconnected, why the rupee is nearing the ₹100 mark against the dollar, and what this means for Indian markets, investors and the broader economy. From retail euphoria in microcaps to warning signals flashing across bond markets, this is a timely look at the risks building beneath the surface of India’s growth story. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

28 Years On: Harshad Mehta’s Comeback Case Still Haunts India

Nearly three decades after Harshad Mehta’s attempted market comeback in 1998, a special SEBI court in Mumbai has convicted the Doshi brothers and several companies linked to the so-called “Damayanti Group” for failing to comply with SEBI summons. But the bigger story is not just about the conviction — it is about India’s painfully slow judicial system, where cases continue for decades even after the main accused is no more. In this audio, Sucheta Dalal explains: • How Harshad Mehta allegedly used front companies to ramp up shares of BPL, Videocon and Sterlite • The infamous 1998 market manipulation episode and BSE bailout controversy • Why SEBI’s detailed investigation eventually collapsed at the appellate stage • How corporate groups and enablers escaped accountability • Why the Damayanti case still matters today • What this means for modern investigations like the Jane Street probe The case is a stark reminder that regulatory action means little without swift and final justice. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Dalmia Bharat: ₹350 Cr Fraud Claim That Backfired

A ₹350-crore fraud complaint filed in the aftermath of the Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services crisis has taken a dramatic turn. A detailed investigation by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office now concludes that the original allegations were false—pointing instead to unlawful gains, fabricated records, and regulatory lapses involving the Dalmia Bharat Group. This audio breaks down the key findings of the SFIO report, including alleged misuse of securities, fake profit entries, market manipulation, and the broader implications for regulatory accountability. It also examines how enforcement delays and institutional inertia allow such cases to drag on for years. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

China: FDI Caution but Huge Import Dependence

India may be loosening FDI rules for neighbouring countries, but the bigger story lies elsewhere. In this analysis, Debashis Basu explains why Chinese investment in India remains negligible—while India’s dependence on Chinese imports continues to deepen. Despite policy tweaks like Press Note 3 relaxations, China sees India less as an investment destination and more as a massive export market. The numbers reveal a stark imbalance: soaring imports of critical goods—from electronics to machinery—against minimal exports. Meanwhile, China is strategically deploying capital across Southeast Asia, Latin America, Europe, and Africa—building manufacturing ecosystems and extending its global industrial dominance. So what is India missing? The answer lies in policy clarity, industrial strategy, and learning from China’s own playbook—where foreign investment was used as a tool for technological and manufacturing transformation. Is India ready to prioritise production and competitiveness over policy ambiguity? ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.