BoM row: Why no action against Shah? asks Raj Thackeray

Training his guns on Amit Shah, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray on Tuesday asked why no action was taken against the BJP president in connection with depositing banned notes in a bank where he is a director.

The Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank (ADCCB) - where Shah is a director - had collected 745.59 crore in a matter of five days after November 8, 2016, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation. The DCBs were, however, prevented from collecting the banned notes through a notification on November 14, 2016.

"Why there is no action against Amit Shah but on the other hand (Ravindra) Maratha, the CMD of Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) was arrested," Raj wanted to know during an interaction with mediapersons.

Raj also questioned the silence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, for the Pune Police abruptly arresting the BoM chief.

"Or for that matter why Chanda Kochhar (CEO of ICICI Bank) ....what was the action on Punjab National Bank (bosses)...why action and arrest only against Marathe," he pointed out referring to the Videocon Group issue and the PNB-Nirav Modi scam.

Speaking further on the BoM issue, Raj said: "What has Marathe to do with D S Kulkarni... I have heard that the reason behind the arrest is that they (government) want to close down BoM and merge with Bank of Baroda...this is what I am hearing."

Raj said Marathe is being victimised for the bank’s refusal to cooperate actively in the farm loan waiver scheme and related issues.