Mumbai: The city EOW, probing the Rs 122 crore missing cash from New India Cooperative Bank, recorded the statements of some of the directors who said they had no role in the decision-making and former chairman Hiren Bhanu took all the decisions.
A source alleged that the bank’s arrested general manager and head of accounts, Hitesh Mehta, received over Rs 1 crore in his personal bank account from arrested accused Manohar Arunachalam and his three friends. “We have recorded the statements of several directors of the bank. They said Bhanu took all the decisions in the bank’s affairs,” said an officer, adding that it also came to their knowledge during the statements that Bhanu and Mehta pulled off the alleged scam.
Mehta has booked two flats worth around Rs 6 crore in Vikhroli and paid around Rs 2 crore. “Manohar and his three friends sent over Rs 1 crore through the banking channel to Mehta. We suspect this money was used by Mehta to pay the developer,” said a source. Police are now in the process to identify the properties bought by Mehta. The misappropriation of funds came to light when a team of RBI officials on Feb 12 inspected the bank and found Rs 122 crore cash missing.