NEW DELHI: In a bid to address critical issues such as financial scams and ensure accountability within the banking sector, the Parliament of India, through the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, has called for oral evidence on assurances previously given in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
The Committee on Government Assurances, chaired by Dr. M. Thambidurai, MP, has summoned banking secretary Vivek Joshi, senior officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Managing Directors/Chief Executive Officers of various Public Sector Banks. The banks include the State Bank of India, Indian Bank, Punjab National Bank, Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, and Indian Overseas Bank. The banks have to give oral evidence related to 2018 banking scam cases.
According to the Finance Ministry written reply to Rajya Sabha query as on 27 March 2018 bank fraud cases exceeded Rs 1,000 crore, implicating multiple banks across the country. These cases are under CBI investigation.
“Two cases involving bank fraud amount of Rs 1,000 crore and above pertaining to IDBI Bank and Canara Bank are also under further investigation after filing of charge-sheets in these cases in the court of law,” the Finance Ministry had said.
“10 Bank officers are under CBI investigation in 5 cases. In 7 cases, no bank officers have been named as accused in the FIR. However, complicity of bank officers is being looked into during the course of investigation,” it further said. Meanwhile, in its reply dated April 3, 2018, the Finance Ministry disclosed that a staggering 292 bank scam cases were under investigation by the CBI.
Among the key findings, it was revealed that 44 prominent banks were embroiled in these illicit activities. Some of the major banks involved include State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, and many more.