Accused in bank fraud case flee without posting bail amount

Five accused in a Rs 217-crore bank fraud case fled from a court here yesterday without depositing the bail amount, according to an official.
The banking fraud and security cell of CBI filed a charge sheet in the case in the special CBI court yesterday and the accused had been summoned for this purpose. The court then granted them bail.
"But the accused fled without depositing the bail amount and the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against them," said a CBI officer today.
The case relates to a complaint filed by an Assistant General Manger of state-run Central Bank in 2013 on behalf of a consortium of the State Bank of India, Vijaya Bank and the Central Bank.

Accordingly, the accused cheated the consortium by getting the finance cap for Shri Chakra Udyog Ltd increased by executing mortgage of flats which were not in their possession. "The accused (also) submitted bogus stock statements and availed of multiple financing in connivance with some staff members of banks," the charge sheet said.
Yesterday, when the accused Subroto Banerjee, Tehsin Charania, Ali Charania, Prakash Pipalia, Vyas Anand Swaroop and Dhaval Pipalia appeared, the court granted them bail on personal bonds of Rs 3 lakh each.
Banerjee was taken into custody as he could not arrange the bail money. However the remaining five accused fled from the court, said the CBI official.

The charge sheet also names directors of the firm Vinod Nair and Ashok Rao and its employee Mahesh Khanvilkar. They have obtained exemption from court appearance.