After Nirav Modi scam at PNB, fear of sweetheart deals at other banks too

The case surfaced as a rule change by RBI in early January forced PNB to tap Nirav Modi and other importers for more margin money, and a query from the central bank about two 'tainted' PNB officials

These are early days in the Nirav Modi saga, but top financial sector officials are not ruling out more such sweetheart deals at other banks, given that the overseas bill discounting business that traders deal in is highly porous. 

The present case has surfaced because an innocuous rule change by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in early January forced Punjab National Bank (PNB) to tap Nirav Modi and other importers for more margin money. Another trigger, it would seem, was an alleged query from RBI seeking the bank’s response over one of its officials allegedly demanding favours from Modi’s company