The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Sebi to conclude its investigations into the alleged stock market violations by the Adani group by August 14.

“Your investigation has to be concluded before the extension of time we granted to you till August 14,” a bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud told solicitor-general Tushar Mehta appearing for the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) during a brief hearing.

The bench was referring to its earlier May 17 order where it asked Sebi to wrap up the investigations by August 14 into the allegations made by US short seller Hindenburg.

Mehta said the investigation is going on with possible “legitimate speed”.

He told the bench that Sebi had on Monday filed their “constructive response”on the suggestions made by the top court-appointed expert committee in its report filed in the court.

“We received the report of the expert committee. So far as the references made on Sebi are concerned, there are some guidance or some suggestions given. We have filed our response yesterday. It is a very constructive response...Since it was filed a little late, it is not before your lordships,” he said.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan appearing for one of the PIL petitioners said the Sebi response was given to all media houses, but not to the court. It was deliberately filed late in the night on Monday so that the court will have little time to go through the response.

“The expert committee has stated that there is no chance of Sebi proceeding anywhere with the investigation given what they have done. They have done things fatal to investigation,” he alleged.

The bench adjourned the hearing on the clutch of pleas on the Adani-Hindenburg row and asked Sebi to circulate its response in which the capital markets regulator has tendered its views on the recommendations made by the expert committee.

It said the matter will be taken up for hearing immediately after conclusion of hearing on some other pleas that are listed before a constitution bench, which is scheduled to commence the hearing from Wednesday.

The Sebi had, in its application filed in the apex court on Monday, said its 2019 rule changes do not make it tougher to identify beneficiaries of offshore funds, and action will be taken if any violation is found or established.