Mumbai: In the ICICI- Videocon case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has questioned former ICICI Bank Managing Director, CEO Chanda Kochhar and her husband Deepak Kocchar for the third day. The ED had also quizzed Chanda, her husband Deepak Kochhar, and Videocon Chairman Venugopal Dhoot in the Rs 3,250 crore ‘quid pro quo’ case on Saturday as well. In a futher development, the ED on Sunday summoned Matrix Fertiliser Chairman Nishant Kanodia.
The ED on Friday conducted searches at the premises of Chanda Kochhar, and Venugopal Dhoot in Mumbai and Aurangabad, respectively. This is the first time a lookout circular (LOC) has been issued against Chanda Kochhar. The CBI had earlier issued LOC against Deepak Kochhar and Dhoot after it registered a preliminary enquiry in March last year to keep a tab on their travel plans at the immigration desks at the international airports.
Chanda Kochhar stepped down from the post of CEO and MD on October 04 last year after expose of the loan saga. Her tenure in the bank was to end this March. Officials said the investigating officer of the case will record their statements under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The ED has registered a criminal case under the PMLA early this year against Chanda Kochhar, Deepak Kochhar, Dhoot and others to probe alleged irregularities and corrupt practices in sanctioning of Rs 1,875-crore loans by ICICI Bank to the corporate group. The CBI has named all the three and Dhoot’s companies – Videocon International Electronics Ltd and VIL.
