English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

Diamond merchant Nirav Modi’s $1.8 bn scam on PNB will leave the banking sector in disarray

Published

on

Diamond merchant Nirav Modi’s $1.8 bn scam on PNB will leave the banking sector in disarray

Even as another multi-billion dollar shady deal within the Indian banking sector comes to light through the Rs 11,292 crore ($1.8 billion) scam by diamond merchant Nirav Modi, political parties have started the blame game, and it is most likely that the suspension of ten employees of Punjab National Bank apart, no other person will be tainted.

Modi himself, quite like liquor baron Vijay Mallya and alleged IPL scam master Lalit Modi, has left the country with his entire family and it’s not sure as of now if India even has an extradition treaty with whichever country he is in. The bankers, of course, will remain untouchable, despite having disbursed public money to scamsters.

Technically, the bank could have stopped payment – these were actually short term loans, called buyer’s credit – at any time on the ‘letters of undertaking’ (LoUs) that it and Modi had signed, allowing Modi to pick up raw diamond from sellers abroad.  These LoUs were signed by PNB and three diamond firms belonging to the Modi Group and some other firms owned by Gitanjali Gems. These companies had opened current accounts at a domestic branch of PNB and,as per the LoUs, money would have been paid by the bank to overseas sellers in foreign currency. This is a common practice, but it would unwise to believe that the bank never did an audit of the money paid and the reimbursements thereafter. That it was a collusion with the clear purpose of a scam is clear.

It is also inconceivable that only ten people (those suspended) were in the know of things, when even the foreign sellers (who sold the raw diamonds to Modi’s firms) held accounts at foreign branches of Indian banks.

The idea of the scam, as disclosed, was that a junior official at PNB fraudulently issued ‘letters of undertaking’, allowing Modi’s companies to get those short term loans from overseas bank branches. Expectedly, the PNB was the guarantor of these loans. A huge number of LoUs would have been done for the amount to reach such gargantuan levels, and in the age of total computerisation of transactions, the bank wants the public to believe that this was the secret work of a select few.

The initial complaint against Modi (in January) was for a Rs 280 crore fraud. Then the bank went to the CBI with the humongous complaint. That was in January 29, by which time Modi had fled the country with his entire family. While Rs 282 crore, in an age of huge scams, did not raise the red flag, the bigger one did. But by that time it was too late to nab Modi.

It has been reported in the media, which have quoted government sources sa saying that Modi and his family fled the country in the first week of January much before the CBI received a complaint from PNB.

It has also been reported that Modi has allegedly sought six months time from PNB to repay the loan.

On 15 February, ED raided nine premises of entities involved in the case.

Leave alone Modi till one can find him. But the bank, like all other banks in such scams, will have a lot of answering to do. This is especially so, because while the BJP says that the Congress should answer because it all started in 2011, the Congress says how come the BJP had no inkling of such a huge scam?

—India Legal Bureau

2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Bollywood actor Neha Sharma campaigns for her father Ajit Sharma in Bhagalpur, Bihar

The Bollywood actor posted a video on her Instagram handle which showed her journey through various districts of Bihar, including Kishanganj, Banka, Purnea and Katihar. She was dressed in a traditional salwar kameez and was seen greeting and encouraging the public to cast their votes.

Published

on

Bollywood actor Neha Sharma’s recent participation in a roadshow in Bihar has taken the internet by storm. Sharma, known for her roles in films like Tum Bin 2 and Crook, was seen supporting her father, Ajit Sharma, who is contesting from Bhagalpur Lok Sabha seat on a Congress ticket. The roadshow came amid speculations that the actor might enter politics. But, it is now clear that she was just campaigning for her father.

neha sharma

The Bollywood actor posted a video on her Instagram handle which showed her journey through various districts of Bihar, including Kishanganj, Banka, Purnea and Katihar. She was dressed in a traditional salwar kameez and was seen greeting and encouraging the public to cast their votes.

The actor received a warm reception and love from a large crowd in Pirpainti and Kahalgaon during her roadshow. She wrote on Instagram that it is said when someone gives one a place in their heart, then they live there forever. She said her heart is full of all the love and support she was receiving from the people. She thanked the people for the warm welcome she got in Pirpainti and Kahalgaon. Aapka pyar sar ankhon par.

Another video, circulating on social media showed the actor actively participating in her father’s election campaign in Bhagalpur. The election to the Bhagalpur Lok Sabha seat is set to take place in the 2nd phase on April 26. Ajit Sharma is representing the Congress and is up against JDU’s Ajay Kumar Mandal in this seat.

Earlier, there had been rumours and speculations that Neha Sharma might join politics. But many reports have clarified that she is not making her political debut yet. The Bollywood actor had been offered the opportunity to join politics by her father Ajjit Sharma but she is currently focusing on her acting career.

Continue Reading

Education

Farmer’s son Nilkrishna Gajare Nirmalkumar from Maharashtra scores 100 NTA score in IIT-JEE Mains 2024

Nilkrishna Gajare’s father is a farmer and had to discontinue his own education after Class 12 as he faced financial difficulties. Gajare faced financial challenges growing up. However, his unwavering dedication and strategic approach to preparation set him apart from the crowd.

Published

on

Nilkrishna Gajare, who hails from Maharashtra’s Washim, achieved an extraordinary feat by securing a perfect score of 100 in the JEE Main 2024 examination. His journey from humble beginnings to the pinnacle of success is a source of inspiration for many people.

Nilkrishna Gajare’s father is a farmer and had to discontinue his own education after Class 12 as he faced financial difficulties. Gajare faced financial challenges growing up. However, his unwavering dedication and strategic approach to preparation set him apart from the crowd, which resulted in his remarkable achievement of emerging as topper of one of India’s toughest Engineering entrance exams.

Nilkrishna Gajare had a strategic plan that helped him succeed in IIT-JEE 2024. According to Nilkrishna persistence is important and one should never stop trying until they understand a topic. He said being curious and asking questions are important traits of a good student.  He said one should not be ashamed of asking questions.

Nilkrishna spent around 10-15 hours every day studying on his own for the JEE Main exam. He mentioned that he used his class notes for Physics and Physical Chemistry. For organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry, he relied on both notes and practice questions.

As for Mathematics, he believed that practicing regularly was the most important thing for him. Other interests of Nilkrishna include archery. He has participated at both state and national levels, and he finds joy in the sport.  He said archery helps him understand the importance of focusing his attention on his goals. Nilkrishna likes watching movies and said they are a great source of enjoyment and relaxation.

He likes to watch a movie after exams and occasionally treats himself to one each week too. Gajare aims to keep up the pace for the JEE-Advanced exam and hopes to get into the IITs. He said he wants to secure admission in IIT-Bombay in the computer science branch.

Continue Reading

2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Lok Sabha elections: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav files nomination from Kannauj

The Samajwadi Party has announced Akhilesh Yadav as its official candidate for the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat today

Published

on

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, submitted his nomination for the Kannauj Lok Sabha constituency ahead of tomorrow’s second round of voting. In front of Ram Gopal Yadav and other party leaders, the chief of the SP, who had previously contested the seat in 2000, 2004 and 2009, submitted the nomination.

Speaking with media, Ram Gopal Yadav said that SP would win the seat by a huge margin. The BJP candidate might lose his deposit in the seat, he said.

The Samajwadi Party has completely reversed its earlier plan to field former Mainpuri MP Tej Pratap Singh Yadav as their candidate, which is a significant political development.

Earlier, Akhilesh Yadav told reporters, people will find out when the nomination takes place, in reference to the speculations that he will contest for the seat. The historic victory of Kannauj is the subject of inquiry.

The former chief minister continued, the people have decided that the India bloc is coming as the future and the BJP will be history in this election.

Notably, elections for the Kannauj seat are scheduled for May 13, which would intensify the political drama that is now playing out in Uttar Pradesh. Previously regarded as the Samajwadi Party’s stronghold, the seat was lost by the party in the 2019 election when Subrat Pathak of the BJP won with a resounding victory.

The candidates competing for the following Uttar Pradesh seats will find out their destiny in the second round of voting, which is scheduled for tomorrow, Amroha, Meerut, Mathura, Baghpat, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, and Bulandshahar.

Notably, two Bollywood celebrities running as BJP candidates in the second round are Hema Malini from Mathura and Arun Govil from Meerut. There are 91 contestants from UP competing in the second phase.

The seats in Gautam Buddha Nagar and Mathura are up for grabs, with a maximum of 15 applicants per seat. In Bulandshahr, six candidates are vying for the presidency. There are twelve contenders running in Amroha, eight in Meerut, seven in Baghpat, and fourteen in Ghaziabad and Aligarh.

1,67,77,198 votes will decide these candidates’ fates.

Continue Reading

Trending

-->

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com