Akash Bhansali’s Paytm Investment Jumps Over 3x to Nearly ₹1,225 Crore

Ace investor Akash Bhansali’s investment in Paytm has delivered a sharp gain, with his stake in One97 Communications, the parent company of Paytm, now valued at nearly ₹1,225 crore. Bhansali, associated with Enam Holdings, built his position in the fintech company when its shares were under pressure following the Reserve Bank of India’s action against Paytm Payments Bank in 2024. He first disclosed a 1.21% stake in One97 Communications during the April-June quarter of 2024, when Paytm shares were trading close to their record lows. According to the latest shareholding data, Bhansali holds 7,921,162 shares of One97 Communications, representing a 1.24% stake in the company. Based on Monday’s intraday price of around ₹1,546 per share, the value of his holding stands at approximately ₹1,225 crore. The current value of the investment is more than three times the estimated ₹360 crore invested initially, implying an increase of around ₹865 crore. On the original investment, the stake is now worth approximately 3.4 times the amount invested. Paytm shares had plunged to a 52-week low of ₹310 following the RBI action. By the end of June 2024, the stock had recovered to ₹465.20, around the period when Bhansali acquired his initial 1.21% stake, according to historical shareholding data. Bhansali subsequently increased his holding, with One97 Communications’ September 2024 shareholding data showing his stake at 1.24%, equivalent to 7,921,162 shares. He has maintained the same number of shares through the latest available quarterly shareholding data. Paytm’s stock has staged a significant recovery from the lows witnessed after the RBI action. Since then, the company has focused on rebuilding its payments business and addressing the regulatory concerns that had weighed heavily on investor sentiment.