PNB scam: CBI seeks polygraph test on accused

Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday filed an application before the special CBI court seeking to conduct polygraph and narco-analysis tests on retired deputy bank manager Gokulnath Shetty in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.

Special public prosecutor A. Limosin on Wed-nesday filed the application before the special CBI judge V.C. Barde. After receiving the application, the judge asked the accused to file his reply on CBI’s plea and deferred hearing on the application for a week.

The CBI in its plea has stated that Shetty, who was branch manager of PNB’s Brady House branch in Mumbai at the relevant time, was arrested on March 6, 2018, and he was in police custody till March 17. However, according to the CBI he did not divulge any information with regards to the fraud committed by him in conspiracy with others and the illegal gratification received by him for favouring fugitive Mehul Choksi and his companies M/s Gitanjali Gems Ltd., M/s Gili India Ltd., and M/s Nakshatra Brand Ltd.

“In order to ascertain his other motives and details of undue pecuniary advantage obtained by him, as one of the main conspirators, it is very much essential to conduct Polygraph Test and Narco Analysis Test on Gokulnath Shetty, after obtaining his consent in the interest of justice,” the CBI said in its plea.

The prosecution case is that Shetty fraudulently issued 143 LoUs (Letter of Undertaking) and without any authorisation enhanced the value of FLCs (Foreign Letter of Credit) in favour of various overseas branches of Indian banks without following prescribed procedure.