Mumbai: The former vice-chairman of New India Cooperative Bank, Hiren Bhanu, has submitted a letter to the EOW denying his and his wife Gauri’s involvement in the misappropriation of Rs 122 crore. He also indicated willingness to provide his statement to the EOW via audio or video communication.
The letter, submitted through solicitor Sajal Yadav, includes an affidavit from the bank’s general manager and head of accounts Hitesh Mehta, dated Feb 14, accepting responsibility for the loss of Rs 122 crore. Bhanu also indicated his 30-year residence abroad — currently in the UAE — and clarified that his wife Gauri’s international travel was previously arranged and not an attempt to escape. The EOW has issued look-out circular notices against the couple.
Bhanu said during RBI’s bank inspection on Feb 12, Mehta disappeared. Later, he called Bhanu and purportedly admitted to the misappropriation and disclosed his five-year pattern of theft, including Rs 70 crore given to a developer, Rs 40 crore to businessman Unnathan Arunachalam and smaller sums to five others. — S Ahmed Ali
Mumbai: The former vice-chairman of New India Cooperative Bank, Hiren Bhanu, has submitted a letter to the EOW denying his and his wife Gauri’s involvement in the misappropriation of Rs 122 crore. He also indicated willingness to provide his statement to the EOW via audio or video communication.
The letter, submitted through solicitor Sajal Yadav, includes an affidavit from the bank’s general manager and head of accounts Hitesh Mehta, dated Feb 14, accepting responsibility for the loss of Rs 122 crore. Bhanu also indicated his 30-year residence abroad — currently in the UAE — and clarified that his wife Gauri’s international travel was previously arranged and not an attempt to escape. The EOW has issued look-out circular notices against the couple.
Bhanu said during RBI’s bank inspection on Feb 12, Mehta disappeared. Later, he called Bhanu and purportedly admitted to the misappropriation and disclosed his five-year pattern of theft, including Rs 70 crore given to a developer, Rs 40 crore to businessman Unnathan Arunachalam and smaller sums to five others. — S Ahmed Ali