Chennai | Dairy major Hatsun Agro Product Ltd has informed the stock exchanges that draft financial figures for the company’s third quarter were accidentally posted on the WhatsApp status of one of its Key Managerial Personnel (KMP). The post was visible only to the person’s contacts for a short period. Calling it an “unintentional human error,” the company said immediate corrective steps were initiated as soon as the matter came to light.
According to Hatsun Agro, the incident occurred around 5 pm on January 4, 2026, when the first-cut, unaudited draft statements for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 were being prepared and shared internally with the accounts team. During this process, the draft file was inadvertently uploaded to the KMP’s personal WhatsApp status instead of being shared through internal channels.
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The company noted that the information could potentially qualify as Unpublished Price Sensitive Information (UPSI). A preliminary assessment suggests that the status was viewed by about 19 contacts, including a few internal personnel. Once the error was detected, the post was removed within an hour, and the company began examining whether there had been any misuse of the data.
Hatsun Agro clarified that the numbers displayed were purely preliminary drafts and remain subject to changes during limited review and audit processes. Emphasising its commitment to “high standards of corporate governance,” the company said the disclosure was made to the exchanges on a voluntary and precautionary basis.
Detailed briefing for audit committee and board
The company said the matter is being formally placed before the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors. In line with SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015 and Hatsun Agro’s internal Insider Trading Code, a formal internal investigation has been initiated.
Once the investigation is completed, the findings of the inquiry committee will be shared with the stock exchanges. The company added that the names of all individuals who may have viewed the alleged UPSI are being recorded in its structured digital database, enabling monitoring of any subsequent trading behaviour if required.
What it signals for investors and markets
Market observers believe that incidents involving the leakage of draft financials raise questions related to compliance risk and reputation management. However, they also point out that Hatsun Agro’s swift disclosure and investigation reflect an effort to maintain transparency and regulatory discipline.
The company further clarified that there was no intent to profit from the inadvertent disclosure and that no indication of insider trading has emerged so far. While the episode is being viewed as a human lapse, the emphasis now is on tightening processes and strengthening safeguards.
Mild reaction in the stock, cautious sentiment
In Monday’s trading session, Hatsun Agro’s shares closed at ₹960.00 on the BSE, down ₹1.62 (—1.85%). Analysts said the decline represented a cautious market reaction to the disclosure rather than a verdict on the company’s fundamentals. A clearer picture may emerge once final results and the investigation report are available.
Hatsun Agro said it will continue to reinforce its internal controls, data-handling practices and communication protocols to prevent a recurrence and to preserve investor confidence.
