Avadhut Dinkar Sathe, ex‑software engineer turned trading guru and founder of ASTAPL [Photo: X]
Avadhut Sathe is into headlines after SEBI imposed an interim ban on him and his firm, Avadhut Sathe Trading Academy Pvt Ltd (ASTAPL). The regulator called back ₹546 crore in “unlawful gains” and barred him from market operations. The action follows SEBI's finding that ASTAPL offered stock-specific trade tips disguised as educational content, resulting in the largest financial penalty ever imposed against an individual market trainer in India.
Avadhut Sathe is a Mumbai-Pune-based financial trainer and trader who rose to prominence by teaching stock market strategies and providing trading mentorship. He is widely recognized for his online and offline courses and has been a popular figure among retail investors.
Avadhut Sathe's full name is Avadhut Dinkar Sathe.
According to reports, Avadhut Sathe Trading Academy’s operating revenue for FY ending March 31, 2024, is reported to be between INR 100 crore and 500 crore. Its EBITDA increased by 6.04% over the previous year, and its book net worth grew by 73.16%.
Avadhut Sathe holds a B.E. in Electronics from the University of Mumbai. He also completed a postgraduate diploma in Software Engineering from the National Centre for Software Technology (NCST).
On December 4, 2025, SEBI issued an interim order against Avadhut Sathe and his firm Avadhut Sathe Trading Academy Pvt Ltd (ASTAPL). The order bans them from providing investment advisory or research services, freezes their accounts, and orders disgorgement of ₹546.16 crore. SEBI said Avadhut Sathe collected over ₹601 crore from more than 3.37 lakh investors.
Avadhut Sathe launched his trading academy, Avadhut Sathe Trading Academy Pvt Ltd (ASTAPL), in 2008. What began as small seminars expanded into a national network. By 2025, ASTAPL claimed to have multiple branches across India and offered courses in several languages — Hindi, Marathi, English, among others. It also provided online training.
The SEBI order calls the academy’s operations “unregistered investment advisory and research analyst services.” It points out that Sathe and ASTAPL were offering stock‑specific trade calls — buy/sell recommendations, stop-loss and target levels — during paid sessions. SEBI said this is more than education; it is investment advice requiring a license.
SEBI initially examined ASTAPL’s operations for FY 2023-24 after spotting promotional content selectively featuring high-return trades. This review triggered a deeper investigation spanning July 1, 2017, to October 9, 2025, ultimately leading to the interim ban.
SEBI banned Avadhut Sathe and his Trading Academy because:
He and ASTAPL were not registered as investment advisers or research analysts. The academy used live market data during sessions and gave actionable trade recommendations under the guise of education. They reportedly collected large fees from students and showcased only profitable trades — hiding losses — thereby misleading investors.
As of August 2025, Sathe is reported to be 52 years old.
His wife, Gouri Avadhut Sathe, participated in administrative activities but did not provide advisory services. The core operations of ASTAPL were primarily driven by Avadhut Sathe.
Similarly, there is no credible public data about whether he has children.
According to SEBI’s order, some of his advanced courses charged up to ₹6.75 lakh per person.
Exact mentorship fees varied depending on the batch/course. The ₹6.75 lakh fee was mentioned for some advanced batches. Additionally, smaller courses and webinars may have had lower fees, but SEBI’s order does not list a complete fee schedule.
SEBI’s December 4, 2025, order effectively shut down the academy’s advisory and research services. ASTAPL and Sathe are barred from dealing in securities, offering advice, using live market data, or advertising trading performance.
Their bank and demat accounts are frozen. The ₹546.16 crore disgorgement amount must be placed in a lien‑marked fixed deposit. If they want to continue any educational activity in future, they must comply with securities laws — meaning registration and transparency, or risk a permanent ban.
Avadhut Sathe began his professional career as a software engineer. He worked with firms including Hexaware Technologies and other companies. His career took him abroad, with stints in Singapore, Australia, and the United States, including a period in Silicon Valley.
By 2007, he quit his IT job to pursue trading full‑time.
In 2008, he founded ASTAPL. What started as a small coaching setup expanded into a nationwide firm with 17 branches across major Indian cities, offering courses in multiple languages and catering to retail investors from diverse backgrounds.
Over the years, he built a large online presence. His YouTube channel reportedly had over 900,000 subscribers, and ASTAPL operated both offline centres and online classes, including for international students.
