₹122-Crore New India Co-op Bank Scam: EOW Intensifies Probe; Focus On Bhanu Couple’s Properties

Mumbai: Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has intensified its investigation into the multi-crore scam at New India Bank. The probe is now tightening around the scam’s masterminds, Hiren Bhanu and Gauri Bhanu.

According to EOW sources, the investigation has revealed that the Bhanu couple used embezzled funds to purchase multiple properties. To track these assets, EOW has sent official letters to several government departments, including the Property Registrar, Revenue Department, Collector's Office, and BMC, requesting details about properties registered under their names.

An EOW senior officer stated that they are awaiting responses from these departments, and once they receive the necessary information, they will initiate the legal process to seize the properties.

₹28 Crore Transferred to Bhanu Couple : EOW sources revealed that the prime accused, Hitesh Mehta, had given ₹28 crore to the Bhanu couple—₹24 crore to Hiren Bhanu and ₹2 crore to Gauri Bhanu. Investigators have found evidence of properties purchased with these funds in Mumbai.

So far, EOW has identified one property on Napean Sea Road, which the couple had rented out. Additionally, during a search of their rented residence in Malabar Hill, EOW recovered several crucial documents.

Bank Directors Under Repeated Questioning : EOW has been re-interrogating six bank directors, but all of them deny knowledge of the scam and claim ignorance of the audit reports.

Meanwhile, EOW is actively searching for two absconding accused, Ulhanath Arunachalam and Kapil Dedhia, but no leads have been found so far.

Manohar Arunachalam to be Produced in Court Again, EOW will present arrested accused Manohar Arunachalam before the Fort Court today, as his police custody ends. Investigators are likely to seek an extension of his remand, as his father, Ulhanath Arunachalam, remains absconding. So far, Manohar has refused to provide any information about his father or cooperate with the investigation.