CBI probes other Bank of Baroda branches

The CBI, which is investigating Rs 6,000 crore suspicious remittances case at a Bank of Baroda branch in Delhi, is now probing the suspected role of some other branches the public sector bank in this connection.

Sources said, “Investigations by the agency have revealed that 59 current account holders and unknown bank officials of the BoB branch in Ashok Vihar, allegedly conspired to send overseas remittances, mostly to Hong Kong, of foreign exchange worth approximately Rs 6,000 crore in illegal and irregular manner, through 6255 transfers during May 2014-July 2015, in violation of established banking norms under the garb of payments towards suspected non-existent imports.” Based on the findings of the agency, the CBI is also probing the role of other branches of the bank in this regard, they added. The agency on Thursday filed a chargesheet against two employees of BoB in connection with remittances worth over Rs 6,000 crore.

The CBI had registered a case under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating) of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, against 59 current account holders and unknown bank officials and private persons on a complaint from BoB. “Investigations revealed that both the accused had abused their official position and in conspiracy with each other and with the said account holders had allegedly cheated and misappropriated the bank funds to the tune of Rs 13.75 crores (approx), thereby causing alleged loss to Bank of Baroda,” said a senior official of the agency.

“Accounts were allegedly opened either in fictitious names or in the names of persons who were employed in different companies. Forged and fake identity papers like PAN Cards and Voters ID cards were allegedly used for opening the accounts in fictitious names”, sources said.