Preity Zinta Loan Controversy: Mumbai Cops Investigate New India Cooperative Bank Scam
Image credits: (Photo credit: Instagram/realpz)
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has summoned six companies that conducted the audit of New India Cooperative Bank from 2019 to 2024, as part of its investigation into the missing Rs 122 crore from the bank. The investigation is not linked to the controversy surrounding actor Preity Zinta, who has refuted allegations of receiving a Rs 18 crore loan waiver from the bank. The EOW is focusing on the case of the missing funds, which were claimed to be kept inside the safes at the offices of the bank's branches in Mumbai's Prabhadevi and Goregaon.
The six auditors who have been summoned are Sanjay Rane and Associates, UG Devi and Co, Gandhi and Associates, Shinde Nayak Associates, Jain Tripathi and Co, and SI Mogul and Co. The EOW is looking into the scam in which Rs 122 crore was found missing from the bank's vaults, with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) finding only Rs 11.13 crore when they counted the cash. The matter came to light after the bank's new acting CEO Devarshi Ghosh filed a complaint against the general manager and head of accounts, Hitesh Mehta, and others in Mumbai for alleged misappropriation of the bank's funds.
Preity Zinta has denied the allegations of receiving a loan waiver, stating that the loan in question was fully paid back 10 years ago. The Kerala Congress had alleged that Preity Zinta had handed her social media accounts to the BJP and received a Rs 18 crore loan waiver from the New India Cooperative Bank. However, Preity Zinta has refuted these claims, saying that she operates her own social media accounts and that no one wrote off any loan for her. The Congress has since apologized for the mistake and expressed solidarity with the depositors who were affected by the bank's actions.
The New India Cooperative Bank has been in the news recently after the RBI suspended deposit withdrawals for six months and ordered that no new loans be issued by the bank. The central bank's action came in response to supervisory concerns and the bank's weak liquidity position. The RBI has since announced some relief for depositors, allowing withdrawals of up to Rs 25,000 from February 27. The bank is currently under investigation, and the EOW is working to uncover the truth behind the missing funds.
Here is a list of key events in the case:
- The EOW summons six auditors in connection with the missing Rs 122 crore from the New India Cooperative Bank
- Preity Zinta refutes allegations of receiving a Rs 18 crore loan waiver from the bank
- The Kerala Congress apologizes for the mistake and expresses solidarity with the depositors
- The RBI suspends deposit withdrawals for six months and orders that no new loans be issued by the bank
- The RBI announces some relief for depositors, allowing withdrawals of up to Rs 25,000 from February 27
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