Police question more suspects in Citi fraud

The Gurgaon police today said it was investigating more Citibank officials for their possible links to the scam in which high net worth clients were duped by an employee, Shivraj Puri, in a multi-crore financial fraud.

Senior police officials revealed they had already questioned a few more bank officials suspected to be involved in the fraud. Investigators believe some of these officials were aware of what Puri – the main accused who was working as the relationship manager in the bank – was up to.

“We have not given a clean chit to anyone for now. We have questioned a few bank officials and more people would be questioned soon. We haven’t ruled out their involvement in the fraud,” said S S Deswal, police commissioner.

Deswal said though Citibank had offered to compensate companies and individuals for their losses in the Rs 300-crore financial fraud, the police would continue with the criminal case.

“There are several organisations involved in the investigations. While the police is looking at the criminal side of the case, the Reserve Bank of India and Securities and Exchange Board of India are investigating the lapses of procedures by the bank.”

The Gurgaon Police have also roped in financial experts to help them investigate the case and assist them in collecting evidence through the documents that have been seized.