CVC asks CBI to probe Rs 1,100 cr loan fraud

The Central Vigilance Commission has asked the CBI to investigate a large scale fraud committed by a private firm by allegedly misusing Rs 1,100 crore loan taken from different nationalised banks and wrongly claiming its end-use.

CVC officials said the firm was taking loans from various banks with the stipulations that it will be used by farmers of different states for growing and supplying castor seeds.

They said Indian Bank's Gotri Branch in Ahmedabad has sanctioned a short term loan of Rs 50 crore on December 31, 2007 to 11 commission agents under tie-up arrangements with the private limited firm.

"The loan were sanctioned to the commission agents for onward lending to farmers for procurement of castor seeds and its cultivation. However, several irregularities were reported in the loan accounts such as disposal of hypothecated stocks, fictitious commission agents, etc", the CVC said. A study conducted by the bank brought out that the firm had played a fraud by availing the loans in the names of commission agents.

While examining the case, it was found that the said firm was given loans by various banks with the stipulation that end use of fund should be used by farmers for growing and supplying castor seeds to the firm, the Commission said.

"However the loan proceeds were not used for the envisaged purpose of onward financing to farmers and the proceeds were diverted.

"The total amount involved in the whole case is Rs 1,110 crore and a consortium partners of nine banks lead by State Bank of India (SBI) and various other banks as consortium had lent to the firm", it said.

According to officials, the Commission is looking into the role of certain banks officials for their alleged involvement in the alleged fraud.

It has also come to the notice of various banks that the firm has perpetrated a fraud on other banks as well. "The loan amount has been syphoned off through Village Level Aggregators (VLAs) appointed by the company", the CVC said.

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