PNB fraud: Ex-Deputy Bank Manager Gokulnath Shetty arrested
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Punjab National Bank's retired Deputy Manager, Gokulnath Shetty and two others in a multi-crore bank fraud case, officials said on Saturday.
"CBI had Shetty, Single Window Operator Manoj Kharat and authorized signatory of the Nirav Modi Group of Firms, Hemant Bhat," a CBI official said.
The official said that they would be presented before the CBI special court in Mumbai later in the day.
PNB's retired Deputy Manager and Operator are named in the CBI FIR along with ten directors of the three private firms namely Krishnan Sangameshwaran, Nazura Yashjaney, Gopal Das Bhatia, Aniyath Shivraman, Dhanesh Vrajlal Sheth, Jyoti Bharat Vora, Anil Umesh Haldipur, Chandrakant Kanu Karkare, Pankhuri Abhijeet Varange and Mihir Bhaskar Joshi.
According to the FIR, it was alleged in the PNB complaint that Gitanjali Gems, Gili India Ltd and Nakshatra Brand Ltd and their directors in connivance with Sethi and other officials had caused an alleged loss of Rs 4,886.72 crore to the bank.
The CBI on Friday registered fresh FIRs against ten directors of the Gitanjali Group of companies under charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating of Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act against Mehul Choksi, the Managing Director of Gitanjali Gems Ltd based at Mumbai's Walkeshwar.
The FIR has also named two former bank employees who were said to be directly involved in the fraudulent transactions.
Additionally, three companies of Gitanjali Group were also named in the CBI FIR registered on Thursday for causing alleged loss of Rs 4,886.72 crore.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday launched a nation-wide raid on the offices, showrooms, and workshops of billionaire diamond trader Nirav Modi.
The multi-pronged action came a day after the Punjab National Bank admitted to unearthing a fraud of Rs 11,515 crore involving Nirav Modi's companies and specific other accounts with the bank's flagship branch (Brady House Branch) in Mumbai and its second largest lending window in India.
The fraud, which includes money-laundering among others, concerns the Firestar Diamonds group in which the CBI last week booked Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal Modi and their uncle, Mehul Choksi.
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Reports claiming Qatar has withdrawn its mediation for ceasefire are inaccurate: Qatar
Doha: Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, clarified that media reports suggesting Qatar’s withdrawal from mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel are inaccurate. He stated that Qatar notified both parties ten days ago, during recent mediation efforts, that it would pause its mediation if an agreement could not be reached in that round. Qatar will resume efforts once both sides demonstrate a genuine willingness to end the ongoing conflict and address the severe humanitarian crisis affecting civilians in Gaza. Qatar remains committed to taking an active role to bring an end to the violence and facilitate the return of hostages and prisoners when conditions allow.
Dr. Al Ansari emphasised that “Qatar will not allow its mediation efforts to be exploited,” pointing out that there has been manipulation, particularly after the collapse of the initial ceasefire and hostage exchange involving women and children. Qatar observed that some parties retreated from previously agreed commitments and used prolonged negotiations to justify ongoing hostilities for narrow political gains.
He reiterated Qatar’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, highlighting Qatar’s commitment to a sovereign Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Addressing recent media speculation, he clarified that reports regarding a Hamas office in Doha are incorrect. He stated that the office functions as a communication channel between relevant parties, which has previously helped facilitate ceasefires and contributed to the release of hostages and detainees in past negotiations.
Dr. Al Ansari urged the public to rely on information from official sources to avoid misinformation.
