Policy on Voluntary Freezing / Blocking of Online Access of Trading Accounts by Clients
Document Control
| Document title | Policy on Voluntary Freezing / Blocking of Online Access of Trading Accounts by Clients |
| Entity | Choice Equity Broking Private Limited (CEBPL) |
| Policy owner | Risk Management / Compliance, CEBPL |
| Version | 2.0 |
| Reviewed / approved by Board | 22.04.2026 (previous review: 21.04.2025) |
| Effective date | 01.05.2026 |
| Regulatory basis | SEBI Circular SEBI/HO/MIRSD/POD-1/P/CIR/2024/4 dated 12.01.2024; implementing exchange circulars — NSE/INSP/61529 and BSE Notice 20240408-12 dated 08.04.2024, and the corresponding MCX and NCDEX circulars of even date; effective for Trading Members from 01.07.2024. Forms part of CEBPL’s Risk Management Policy. Read with the client protection and risk-management obligations under the SEBI (Stock Brokers) Regulations, 2026. |
| Next review due | Annually, or earlier upon any SEBI / exchange circular affecting this policy |
1. Purpose & Regulatory Basis
This policy sets out the facility offered by Choice Equity Broking Private Limited (“CEBPL”) enabling clients to voluntarily freeze or block online access to their trading account where they detect, or suspect, unauthorised or suspicious activity in the account. CEBPL is a member of NSE, BSE, MCX and NCDEX.
The facility is provided in accordance with SEBI Circular SEBI/HO/MIRSD/POD-1/P/CIR/2024/4 dated January 12, 2024 (“Ease of Doing Investments by Investors – Facility of voluntary freezing / blocking of Trading Accounts by Clients”), as implemented by the stock exchanges through NSE Circular NSE/INSP/61529 and BSE Notice 20240408-12 dated April 8, 2024, and the corresponding MCX and NCDEX circulars of even date, with effect from July 1, 2024. This policy forms part of CEBPL’s Risk Management Policy and is disclosed on CEBPL’s website along with the modes of request and applicable timelines.
2. Scope & Important Clarifications
This facility allows a client to restrict online access to the trading account as a protective measure. The following clarifications apply:
- Freezing / blocking restricts online access only — it stops fresh orders being placed through the terminal, mobile application or API. It does not, by itself, freeze the client’s demat account, which is a separate facility available through the Depository Participant.
- Freezing / blocking online access does not impact CEBPL’s Risk Management activities. CEBPL may continue to act on the client’s open positions in accordance with its Risk Management Policy (for example, on margin shortfall or for risk reduction).
- A request for freezing / blocking does not mark the client’s Unique Client Code (UCC) as inactive in the Exchange records.
3. When to Request a Freeze / Block
A client should consider requesting a freeze / block on detecting any activity suggesting that someone other than the client is operating, or attempting to operate, the trading account. Indicative examples include:
- Orders or positions placed, or holdings sold, without the client’s knowledge or instruction;
- Inability to log in, or a password changed without the client’s action;
- A change to the registered email, mobile number or bank account that the client did not initiate;
- An unauthorised off-market or depository transfer of securities; or
- Unsolicited OTPs, login alerts or order confirmations for activity the client did not perform.
4. How to Request Freezing / Blocking
A client may request freezing / blocking of online access through any of the following modes, and no channel other than these is available for this purpose:
- Via the Choice FinX App (after logging in with two-factor authentication): Support > Contact Us > “Block Online Access”;
- Through the website www.choiceindia.com (after logging in with two-factor authentication): Support > Contact Us > “Block Online Access”;
- By email to stoptrade@choiceindia.com from the registered email ID, clearly stating the trading account number (Unique Client Code); or
- By calling CEBPL’s customer care.
On receipt, CEBPL will validate the request — for app and website requests, through two-factor authentication at login; for email requests, through the registered email ID; and for calls, through verification of the client’s registered details — and will issue an acknowledgment to the client.
5. Timelines for Acknowledgment and Freezing / Blocking
Upon validation, CEBPL will issue the acknowledgment and freeze / block online access within the following timelines:
| Scenario | Timeline for acknowledgment and freezing / blocking of online access |
| Request received during the trading hours, or within 15 minutes before the start of trading. | Within 15 minutes. |
| Request received after the trading hours, or earlier than 15 minutes before the start of trading. | Before the start of the next trading session. |
Trading hours (for the purpose of the above): Capital Market Segment 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Equity Derivatives Segment 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Currency Derivatives Segment 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Commodity Derivatives Segment 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. / 11:55 p.m. (as per the exchange timings applicable in the respective periods).
Responsibility during processing: CEBPL shall be responsible for any trades executed in the trading account from the time of receipt of a valid request until online access is frozen / blocked, where the freezing / blocking is not completed within the timelines specified above.
6. Actions on Freezing / Blocking
- Pending orders: on freezing / blocking, all pending orders (if any) in the trading account will be cancelled.
- Communication: CEBPL will send a communication to the client’s registered mobile number and registered email ID confirming that online access has been frozen / blocked and that pending orders (if any) have been cancelled.
- Open positions: details of open positions (if any), together with contract expiry information, will be communicated to the client within one hour of the freezing / blocking of online access.
7. Re-enabling Online Access
Re-enabling of online access is not automatic. A client may request re-enablement by sending an email to stoptrade@choiceindia.com or care@choiceindia.com from the registered email ID, mentioning the trading account number (Unique Client Code), or through such other registered mode as CEBPL may prescribe.
Before restoring online access, CEBPL will carry out due diligence through live video verification of the client and confirmation of all KYC details. Where any registered credential (email, mobile, bank account) or the login credentials were suspected to be compromised, these will be updated and reverified; the trading credentials are reset only after the live video verification and confirmation of all KYC details are completed. On completion, the client will be intimated on the registered mobile number and email ID.
8. Records & Reporting
CEBPL will maintain records of all freezing / blocking and re-enablement requests and the actions taken, including the status and history of each request, and will provide such information to the client, the stock exchanges and SEBI as and when required. CEBPL will also comply with any reporting requirements prescribed by the exchanges in respect of this facility.
9. Client Awareness
CEBPL will inform clients of the availability of this facility and its scope through appropriate communication channels, so that clients are able to use it effectively to protect their trading accounts. This policy, framed in line with the framework referred to above, forms part of CEBPL’s account opening kit and of CEBPL’s Risk Management Policy, and is disclosed on CEBPL’s website.
10. Review & Amendment
This policy shall be reviewed at least annually, and additionally whenever SEBI or the exchanges issue an updated circular or guidance affecting this facility. Risk Management and Compliance are jointly responsible for keeping this policy current and for placing material changes before the Board for approval.