Following fraud detection, PNB transfers 1,415 of its employees
In its bid to bury rumours that 18,000 employees have been transferred following the detection of $1.8 billion fraud, Punjab National Bank (PNB) has clarified it has only transferred 1,415 employees as part of its Rotational Transfer Policy.
"There have been reports appearing in the media that the bank has transferred close to 18,000 employees. The same is factually incorrect as the bank has transferred 257 sub staff, 437 clerks and 721 officers (total 1,415 employees) since February 19, 2018, as per prevailing Rotational Transfer Policy of the bank," PNB has tweeted.
It further added that the working of the branches is "going on smoothly" and the transfers are in no way affecting the customer service of the bank.
The bank decision to transfer these officials came soon after Rs 11,300 crore fraud was detected in its Brady House branch, in which bank officials were also involved.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 17 had arrested PNB's retired Deputy Manager, Gokulnath Shetty and its Single Window Operator Manoj Kharat in the multi-crore fraud case.
Both these officials remained in one branch of PNB for several years, while the usual norm is employees getting transferred every two-three years.
The ED on Friday said it had frozen Nirav Modi's bank account and shares worth Rs 43 crore even as the CBI raided his Mumbai-based Kamala Mills firm and seized documents regarding the fraud probe.
Nirav's bank account had Rs 30 crore, while the shares were valued at Rs 13.86 crore, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said.
A senior Income Tax Department official said on Friday that as of date, 144 bank accounts and fixed deposits of Gitanjali Group owned by Mehul Choksi -- with a total credit balance of Rs 20.26 crore -- have been attached.
The ED officials also seized a large collection of imported watches from several locations connected to the diamond czar during the searches in the last few days.
A total of 176 steel almirahs, 158 boxes and 60 other containers linked to Nirav Modi have also been seized over the last week by the ED officials.
On Thursday, the agency seized bank deposits, shares and luxury cars worth over Rs 100 crore.
The agency has frozen mutual funds and shares worth Rs 7.80 crore of Nirav Modi and Rs 86.72 crore of his uncle Mehul Choksi of the Gitanjali Group.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which initiated the probe in the scam, on Friday raided Nirav Modi's Kamala Mills firm and seized some documents.