Hedge fund Anson Funds and Hindenburg Research founder Nathan (Nate) Anderson are facing heightened scrutiny as allegations of market manipulation and securities fraud have been levelled against them. Court filings have revealed that Anson Funds allegedly collaborated with Anderson to orchestrate targeted short-selling campaigns. From the screenshots of the documents shared by the Market Frauds website, Anson dictated the content of Hindenburg’s reports, undermining claims that the organisation conducted independent research. Regulatory bodies, including the US SEC, are probing these activities, with potential charges looming.
Adding to the intrigue, reports suggest that there might be a link between Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and Anson Funds co-founder Moez Kassam’s wife, Marissa Siegal Kassam. The two may have known each other as they both worked for JP Morgan in the past. Moitra served as Vice President for nearly 12 years before joining politics. On the other hand, Marissa held various positions at JPMorgan in London, Hong Kong, and New York.
This connection has raised questions about the motivations and affiliations driving the attacks on the Adani Group, which OpIndia had earlier reported were allegedly fuelled by kickbacks Moitra received to raise parliamentary questions against Adani.
The accusations against Anson Funds include links to organised crime and allegations of profiting from manipulated stock price declines, as detailed in court filings and investigative reports. Meanwhile, Moitra’s possible ties to Marissa Kassam and Anson Funds’ co-founder, if proven, will add more layers of complexity to the narrative, particularly as Hindenburg Research’s role in global market disruptions faces growing criticism.
Mahua Moitra targeted the Adani Group on multiple occasions
An October 2023 report from OpIndia revealed that BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra of receiving cash and gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for raising parliamentary questions benefiting his business interests. The report detailed Moitra’s queries in the Lok Sabha, targeting Paradip Port and Adani Group, which aligned with Hiranandani’s projects. Notable questions included those about port agreements, telecom services, and natural gas distribution.
Allegations also surfaced that her queries on Adani-run ports and energy policies favoured Hiranandani’s competitive business interests. Moitra denied wrongdoing, asserting her independence, but OpIndia’s reports highlighted overlaps between her parliamentary activities and Hiranandani’s business pursuits, intensifying scrutiny of her motives. These allegations, combined with her possible link to Marissa Siegal Kassam, wife of Anson Funds’ co-founder, have raised questions about her role in the larger narrative of financial and political manoeuvres surrounding the Adani Group.
Disclaimer: OpIndia has not confirmed links between Mahua Moitra and Marissa Siegal Kassam in any capacity. These are only speculations based on available news reports and profiles of Marissa Siegal Kassam and Mahua Moitra.