IRB Infrastructure Developers saw a 4% jump in its stock price on January 17, following the release of a significant share encumbrance by promoter Sudha Dattaray. This move, disclosed under SEBI’s Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers Regulations, revealed the release of 28.4 lakh pledged shares, or 0.047% of the company’s equity. Dattaray, holding 50.59 lakh shares (0.08% of total equity), had previously pledged 35.90 lakh shares for personal borrowing. With this disclosure, only 7.5 lakh shares (0.01% of equity) remain encumbered. The reduction in pledged shares signals eased financial obligations, boosting investor confidence amid a tepid market. The stock hit a day’s high of ₹54.78, marking a 4.2% rise. Despite being 30% below its 52-week peak of ₹78.05 (June 2024), the stock has climbed 22% from its 52-week low of ₹44.96 in January 2024, with a 15.5% annual gain. Operationally, IRB posted a 4% rise in Q2FY25 net profit to ₹99.86 crore, though total income dropped to ₹1,751.16 crore from ₹1,874.50 crore YoY. Toll collections surged 25% YoY, driven by its Private InvIT projects, highlighting robust asset performance despite monsoon disruptions. Management remains optimistic, citing steady toll growth and portfolio resilience, further reinforcing the positive sentiment surrounding the share pledge release.