Investors pulled out over Rs 7,200 crore from equity-oriented mutual funds during the July-September quarter this year as expensive valuation diverted them towards profit-booking. In comparison, such schemes had witnessed a hefty inflow of Rs 23,874 crore in the same quarter last fiscal, data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India showed. Although, the asset base of equity mutual funds (MFs) slightly increased to Rs 7.64 lakh crore by the end of Sept 2020 from Rs 7.24 lakh crore as of Sept 2019. As per the data, outflows from equity and equity-linked schemes were at Rs 7,214 crore in the three months ended September, while such schemes saw inflows to the tune of Rs 11,710 crore in the June quarter and Rs 30,703 crore in the March quarter. Of Rs 7,214 crore outflows, the schemes witnessed a pull out of Rs 2,480 crore in July, which was the first withdrawal in four years, Rs 4,000 crore in August and Rs 734 crore in September.