JOIN USTwo bank officials arrested in the multi-crore scam involving Nirav Modi were initially "evasive" in their responses about the involvement of other employees but now have given more clues to investigators, CBI sources said on Sunday.
The sources said they were investigating whether the bank staff also gave any unauthorised access to Nirav's staff to their system while the multi-agency probe expanded its ambit of the investigation in the Rs 11,344.40 crore scam to officials in overseas branches of certain banks.
The CBI had on Saturday arrested Gokulnath Shetty, a retired Deputy Manager, and Manoj Kharat besides an authorised signatory of Nirav Modi Group of companies Hemant Bhat.
The sources said PNB staff were initially not forthcoming on the role of other staff in the bank who used the banking channel to issue Letters of Understanding. However, they said, the duo have now given some details about other staff.
The CBI is also is examining balance sheets of 18 India-based subsidiaries of the Gitanjali group of companies while the ED conducted fresh searches in 45 locations.
The agency also started scrutinising the balance sheets of 18 India-based subsidiaries of the Gitanjali group of companies promoted by Mehul Choksi, uncle of Nirav, to understand the money trail of funds taken from various banks on the basis of LoUs. Investigators are also looking at the quid pro quo angle involved in the scam.
A senior official said the focus at present is to understand the depth of the scam, the movement of funds and role of senior officials.
Investigators in the ED, CBI and the Income Tax Department are also scanning through around 200 shell firms and "benami" assets in connection with the scam. These shell firms were being used by the accused to launder money and create "benami" assets in the form of land, gold and precious stones, sources said.
The ED on its part is planning to attach at least two dozen immovable properties under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The Congress on Sunday continued to step up pressure on the government on the scam with its president Rahul Gandhi asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to speak up on the multi-crore PNB scam and not behave like "guilty".
"PM Modi tells kids how to pass exams for 2 hours, but won't speak for 2 mins on the Rs 22,000 crore banking scam. Mr Jaitley is in hiding. Stop behaving as if you're guilty! Speak up #ModiRobsIndia," Gandhi tweeted.
The Opposition is also planning to raise it in big way the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the scam.