Look Out Circular against Chanda Kochhar

The CBI has issued a look out circular (LoC) against former ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochar, who faces allegations of conniving with her husband to benefit Videocon Group and cheat the bank of Rs 1,730 crore.

This would enable the agencies to know if Kochhar tries to leave the country. The Immigration authorities at all airports and entry-exit points across the country will have to inform the CBI if she attempts to leave the country.

Officials have not provided details whether the LoC against Chanda Kochhar is limited to just inform the agency in case she is flying out of the country or she has to be detained by immigration officials in such a scenario.

Sources also said the LoCs issued earlier against the former banker's husband Deepak Kochhar and Videocon Managing Director Venugopal Dhoot have also been revised. These LoCs were issued before the registration of a regular case by the CBI.

The investigators are also planning to call the Kochhar couple for questioning in the case.

According to the FIR, ICICI Bank sanctioned credit facilities to Videocon group of companies in violation of rules and regulations. Six loans were sanctioned to Videocon group of companies

It was also alleged that Dhoot gave Rs 64 crore in 2010 through a fully-owned firm to NuPower Renewables Pvt Ltd he had set up with Deepak Kochhar and two of his relatives. It was also claimed that Dhoot transferred proprietorship of the company to a trust owned by Deepak Kochhar six months for Rs nine lakh after he received the loan from ICICI.

The investigators claimed that Chanda Kochhar was instrumental in sanctioning these loans "dishonestly by abusing her official position".