Congress demands Modi's reply on bank fraud cases

The Congress on Tuesday said an RTI has revealed that frauds of Rs 19,317 crore have been reported in the country's finance capital Mumbai alone in the last three years and demanded a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The party said the governments of Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appear to have given a one-way-ticket to cheat and scoot.

"Shocking information available through RTI on February 9, 2018, reflects that under the BJP government's watch, frauds and scams of Rs 19,317 crore have been reported in India's economic capital -- Economic Offences Wing, Mumbai -- alone in last three years," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Citing the RTI reply, Surjewala said that in 2015 it was Rs 5,560.66 crore, in 2016 it was Rs 4,273.87 crore and in 2017 it was Rs 9,838.66 crore.

He said 'fleece, flee and fly' is the mantra of fraudsters under Modi's rule.

"Fraud, malfeasance, bank loot, cheating and swindling of banks and common people are getting unravelled every day, as the Prime Minister and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley are on an indefinite 'maun vrat' (silence)," he said.

He said the fraud cases include Bank of Baroda forex scam -- Rs 6,400 crore, Vijay Mallya bank scam -- Rs 9,000 crore, the combined bank loot by jewellers Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi -- Rs 22,606 crore, Mehul Choksi Jan Dhan Loot Yojana -- Rs 5,000 crore, Vikram Kothari in Rotomac scam -- Rs 3,695 crore, Dwarka Das Jewellers bank scam -- Rs 390 crore, Canara Bank Scam -- Rs 515 crore, and Winsome bank loot scam -- Rs 6,712 crore with a total sum of Rs 54,318 crore.

"What is even more astonishing is that 184 accused in these scams and frauds have escaped.

"Time to tell the people as to how many fraudsters have already left for foreign shores and tax heavens. Even more inexcusable is the fact that of Rs 19,317 crore, a pittance of Rs 2.50 crore could be recovered. India demands switch from 'Nirav' Modi (silent Modi) to 'Bol' Modi," said the leader.

--IANS

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