BeyondHeadlines News Desk
Pune : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials raided Pune Muslim Co-operative Bank Administrative Branch in Bhavani Peth and 32 others places in connection with in an on-going investigation of a case relating to alleged exchange of demonetized currency notes. Incriminating documents which were recovered during searches are being scrutinized by the agency.
The Central Bureau of Investigation in its release given on Thursday night said the agency conducted searches at 32 places including the Administrative Office and 17 branches of a Maharashtra based Co-operative Bank Ltd., and the residential premises of the accused persons at Pune, Baramati and Lonavala (Maharashtra) in an on-going investigation of a case relating to alleged exchange of demonetized currency notes. Incriminating documents recovered during searches are being scrutinized.
The CBI registered a case under Sections 120-B, 420, 471, 477-A of IPC and Sections 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of PC Act 1988 against nine officers/officials of a Co-operative Bank Ltd., Pune and others.
It was alleged that after the announcement of demonetization by the Government of India on 08.11.2016, accused officers/officials in conspiracy with each other, exchanged the demonetized General Currency Notes of Rs.1000/- and Rs.500/- denomination amounting to Rs. 40 Lakh (approx) with an equivalent amount of General Currency Notes of Rs.100 and Rs.50, which were collected from different Branches of the said Co-operative Bank Ltd.
It was also alleged that the accused replaced the Original Small Cash Books (Cash Summary Books) of Administrative Office and Branches of the Bank, with new manipulated Small Cash Books containing the false entries with respect to various denominations of General Currency Notes of Rs.1000/- & Rs.500/- and Rs.100/- & Rs.50/- denominations to accommodate the exchange of demonetized currency done so, in gross violation of Banking rules and regulations, informed the media release.
Bank Chairman P. A Inamdar told mediapersons “The CBI officers visited the bank earlier but have not told us about the case so far. Two of the directors of the bank have complained against me and it looks like a political conspiracy by them. We assure our depositors, members and well-wishers that there is no reason to worry as the bank is in very strong financial position.”
Bank directors S.M. Iqbal and Imtiaz Shikilkar welcomed the CBI raids “The raids show how the corrupt machinery of a dictator like Inamdar is running the bank like his private property and also shows his skills in manipulation, promoting corruption and lack of transparency and accountability. The bank is of people and not this corrupt person who wears the mask of muslim community and furthers his fraud agenda and misleads the nation,” they said.
On Dec 29, 2017, The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had lodged an FIR against nine officials of the Muslim Co-op Bank under section 120 B IPC r/w sections 420, 471 and 477-A and section 13 (2) r/w 13 (1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The CBI has booked them under offences suspected like criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and criminal misconduct.
Staffers Salman Haroon Khan, clerk/cashier, Rafique Abdul Shaikh, Manager and Incharge, RBI Correspondence Section, Anis Hasimoddin Qazi, Passing Officer, Haroon Hasan Shaikh, Passing Officer, Anis Ismael Khan, admin officer, Shakeel Ahmed Saudagar, Compliance Officer, Nasir Shaikh, Junior Manager, Javed Masood Khan, Branch Manager, Azam Campus Branch, Haroon Sattar Sayed, CEO/Secretary and other unknown officers of the bank and private persons were booked by CBI.
