📖 Overview
Sucheta Dalal is an Indian business journalist and author known for breaking several major financial scandals in India, including the 1992 securities scam involving stockbroker Harshad Mehta. Her investigative reporting for The Times of India exposed widespread corruption and malpractice in the Indian stock market and banking sector.
Along with her husband Debashis Basu, Dalal founded MoneyLife magazine and the Moneylife Foundation, focusing on financial literacy and consumer protection in India's financial markets. She has authored multiple books including "The Scam: From Harshad Mehta to Ketan Parekh" which documents major Indian financial market frauds.
Dalal received the Padma Shri award in 2006 for her contributions to Indian journalism. Her work has been instrumental in bringing about regulatory reforms in India's financial markets and strengthening corporate governance standards.
Her investigative methods and detailed coverage of complex financial fraud have influenced a generation of business journalists in India. The web series "Scam 1992" was based on her book and reporting of the Harshad Mehta case.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Dalal's ability to break down complex financial scams into understandable narratives. Her book "The Scam" receives credit for documenting Indian market manipulation with precise details and evidence.
What readers liked:
- Clear explanation of technical financial concepts
- Thorough research and documentation
- Inside perspective on India's financial system
- Neutral, fact-based reporting style
Common criticisms:
- Writing can be dry and technical
- Some readers found the chronology hard to follow
- Later chapters feel rushed compared to early sections
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,100+ ratings)
Amazon India: 4.3/5 (1,800+ reviews)
Reader quote: "Explains complex financial fraud without sensationalism. Required reading for anyone interested in Indian markets." - Goodreads review
The book's detailed coverage of the Harshad Mehta case draws particular praise, though some readers note the other cases covered receive less thorough treatment.
📚 Books by Sucheta Dalal
The SCAM: From Harshad Mehta To Ketan Parekh (2003)
Chronicles India's major securities scam of 1992 and subsequent market manipulations through the 1990s and early 2000s.
A Guide to Indian Markets (2006) Covers the structure, functioning, and regulation of India's financial markets, including equity, debt, and derivatives.
Financial Market Regulation and Reforms in Emerging Markets (2011) Examines regulatory changes in Indian financial markets following liberalization, with focus on investor protection and market stability.
Business Standard Guide to Indian Markets (2014) Details the evolution of Indian stock markets, trading mechanisms, and investment instruments available to market participants.
The Essential Book of Corporate Governance (2016) Explores corporate governance practices in India through case studies and analysis of regulatory frameworks.
A Guide to Indian Markets (2006) Covers the structure, functioning, and regulation of India's financial markets, including equity, debt, and derivatives.
Financial Market Regulation and Reforms in Emerging Markets (2011) Examines regulatory changes in Indian financial markets following liberalization, with focus on investor protection and market stability.
Business Standard Guide to Indian Markets (2014) Details the evolution of Indian stock markets, trading mechanisms, and investment instruments available to market participants.
The Essential Book of Corporate Governance (2016) Explores corporate governance practices in India through case studies and analysis of regulatory frameworks.
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