State Bank Of India v. Central Bureau Of Investigation
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 15.02.2024 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA and W.M.P.No.32335 of 2023 State Bank of India, Represented by its Regional Manager, K.Nagendran, State Bank of India, RBO-III.
Regional Business Office, No.4, 1st Floor, State Bank Road, Erode - 638 001.
... Petitioner Vs.
Central Bureau of Investigation, Anti-Corruption Branch, III Floor, Shastri Bhavan, Haddows Road, Chennai - 600 006.
... Respondent PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, pleased to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus or any other writ, order or direction in the nature of writ of certiorarified mandamus, to call for the records of the respondent with respect to the impugned communication dated 22.08.2023 issued by the respondent to the petitioner vide No.C6/RA27/2023/CBI/ACB/CHN/2023/3276/3336 and quash the same and consequently, direct the respondent to register a First Information Report on the basis of the complaint lodged by the petitioner to the respondent on 21.06.2023 in RM-III-CR-P&C-40.
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For Petitioner : Mr.Vaibhav R.Venkatesh for M/s. Nithyaeash & Vaibhav For Respondent : Mr.K.Srinivasan Special Public Prosecutor for CBI.
O R D E R
The Writ Petition has been filed seeking to quash the impugned communication dated 22.08.2023 issued by the respondent to the petitioner vide No.C6/RA-27/2023/CBI/ACB/CHN/2023/3276/3336 and to direct the respondent to register a First Information Report, on the basis of the complaint dated 21.06.2023 lodged by the petitioner with the respondent vide RM-III-CRP&C-40.
2. The submissions of learned counsel Mr.Vaibhav R.Venkatesh appearing for the petitioner is as follows:- 2.1. The petitioner Bank is Public Sector Bank and being the largest Bank in India, there are lakhs of persons who are on the payrolls of the petitioner Bank.
2.2. Mr.Abhijeet Kumar, Mr.P.Kesavan, Mr.V.Gurumurthy and Mr.Abishek Ranjan, who are the suspected employees, during their tenure at the Sathyamangalam Branch of the petitioner Bank between 2017 and 2021, in 2/11
collusion with other unknown employees and customers of the Bank, by involving in fraudulent activities, corrupt practices and by flouting banking norms and rules, had sanctioned several loans based on forged documents to ineligible borrowers, by accepting bribe and thereby, caused heavy loss to the Bank to the tune of Rs.25.69 Crores.
2.3. The fraud committed by the suspected employees came to light during the Spot Audit conducted by the Internal Audit Department at Sathyamangalam Branch. The disciplinary proceedings were initiated against the suspected employees and other staff involved in the offence. 2.4. Initially, the Bank had preferred a complaint with the Joint Director and Head Zone (CBI), Bank Security and Fraud Zone, New Delhi on 31.03.2023, and the same was returned vide communication in CBI ID No.3023/BCC/2023/E/0162 dated 02.06.2023 stating that the outstanding amount of an individual account is less than Rs.3 Crores and directed the petitioner Bank to approach the local Police. 2.5. Thereafter, the petitioner Bank had preferred a complaint to the Superintendent of Police, Erode, on 22.06.2023 in Letter No.RM-III-CRP&C-41. Subsequently, on 31.07.2023, the petitioner had issued communications with all details and documents in connection with the original complaint filed on 22.06.2023. Thereafter, the Regional Manager was 3/11
summoned for enquiry and pursuant to the same, he appeared and produced all the details and documents, however, later, by a communication dated 04.08.2023, the District Crime Branch, Erode, stating that the amount involved in the fraud committed by the delinquent employees in Sathyamangalam Branch is to the tune of Rs.25.69 Crores, had returned the complaint and directed the petitioner Bank to approach the appropriate authority, referring to the directions issued by the Reserve Bank of India (Frauds Classification and reporting by commercial banks and select F1s) on 01.07.2016 in Reserve Bank of India RBI/DBS/2016-2017/28 DBS.CO.CFMC.BC.No.1/23.04.001/2016-17. 2.6. Meanwhile, the petitioner bank had also preferred a complaint to the respondent vide letter No.RM-III-CR-P&C-40 dated 21.06.
2023, for which, the respondent had issued a communication No.C6/RA27/2023/CBI/ACB/CHN/2023/3276/3336 dated 22.08.2023, by which it refused to take up the case and returned the complaint stating that as the outstanding amount of an individual account is less than Rs.3 Crores, this matter does not fall under the purview of CBI. 2.7. It is the further case of the petitioner that a sum of Rs.25.69 Crores of public funds in Sathyamangalam Branch, had been cheated by the culprits which would result in causing loss not only to the petitioner bank but also to the economic growth of the country.
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2.8. The petitioner bank is being shuttled between the District Police and CBI on account of technicalities. The respondent ought to have registered a case and conducted the investigation in order to protect the interest of the Bank. Inaction on the part of the respondent is without any justification. Thereby, the present Writ Petition has been filed seeking to set aside the impugned communication of the respondent dated 22.08.2023 and direct the respondent to register a First Information Report on the basis of the complaint lodged by the petitioner to the respondent on 21.06.2023 in RM-III-CR-P&C40.
3. The Special Public Prosecutor for CBI cases on instructions from the respondent submitted that as per the directions of Reserve Bank of India vide its Master Circular dated 01.07.2016 (Frauds Classification and reporting by commercial banks and select FIs) in RBI/DBS/2016-2017/28 DBS.CO.CFMC.BC.No.1/23.04.001/2016-17, the Reserve Bank of India has classified the frauds committed and issued certain guidelines for reporting frauds to Police/CBI in Chapter VI. Since the amount involved in each of the account mentioned in the complaint in respect of the Sathyamangalam Branch is less than Rs.3Crores, the respondent had expressed its inability to take up the 5/11
case. He would however, submit that subject to the orders passed by this Court, the respondent is ready to proceed in accordance with law.
4. For better appreciation, the relevant Chapter (Chapter VI) of the Master Circular on "Frauds - Classification and Reporting" dated 01.07.2016 issued by the Reserve Bank of India under Section 35 A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 is extracted hereunder:- CHAPTER VI
6. Guidelines for Reporting Frauds to Police/CBI 6.1 In dealing with cases of fraud/embezzlement, banks should not merely be actuated by the necessity of recovering expeditiously the amount involved, but should also be motivated by public interest and the need for ensuring that the guilty persons do not go unpunished. Therefore, as a general rule, the following cases should invariably be referred to the State Police or to the CBI as detailed below:
Category of bank Amount involved in the fraud Agency to whom complaint should be Remarks Private Sector/ Foreign Banks Rs.10000 and above State Police If committed by staff Rs.0.1 million and above State Police If committed by outsiders on their own 6/11
Category of bank Amount involved in the fraud Agency to whom complaint should be Remarks and/or with the connivance staff/officers. of bank In addition to State Police, SFIO, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India.
Second Floor, Paryavaran Bhavan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110 003.
Details of the fraud are to be reported to SFIO in FMR Format Rs.10 million and above Below 30 million
1. Rs.10,000/- and above but below Rs.0.1 million If committed by staff State Police
2. 01 million and above but below Rs.30 million To the State CID/Economic Offences Wing of the State concerned To be lodged by the Regional Head of the bank concerned Rs. 30 million and above and up to Rs.250 million CBI To be lodged with Anti Corruption Branch of CBI (where staff involvement is prima facie evident) Economic Offences Wing of CBI (where staff involvement is prima facie not evident) Public Sector Banks More than Rs.250 million and up to Rs.500 million CBI To be lodged with Banking Security and Fraud Cell (BSFC) of CBI (irrespective of the involvement of a public servant) More than Rs.500 million CBI To be lodged with the Joint Director (Policy) CBI, HQ New Delhi 7/11
6.2 All fraud cases of value below Rs.10,000/- involving bank officials, should be referred to the Regional Head of the bank, who would scrutinize each case and direct the bank branch concerned on whether it should be reported to the local police station for further legal action."
5. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Special Public Prosecutor for CBI cases and perused the materials available on record.
6. It is the case of the petitioner that the suspected employees of the petitioner Bank, in collusion with other unknown staff members and customers of the Bank, had committed fraud and cheated the Bank to the tune of Rs.25.69 crores in Sathyamangalam Branch. The complaint given to the State Police has been returned and they had refused to take up the case stating that it is beyond their pecuniary limit. The complainant is a public sector bank. The value of the fraud alleged to be committed is Rs.25.69 Crores which would cause loss to the economic growth of the country. The petitioner/complainant cannot be shuttled between two agencies on the grounds of technicalities. Further, since, the amount of fraud involved is more than three crores, as per the directions issued by the Reserve Bank of India in Clause 6.1, the respondent, the Anti-Corruption 8/11
Branch of CBI has to register the case and proceed in accordance with law.
7. In view of the above, this Writ Petition stands allowed. Accordingly, the impugned communication dated 22.08.2023 bearing No.C6/RA-27/2023/CBI/ACB/CHN/2023/3276/3336, passed by the respondent is quashed. Further, the respondent is directed to register the case, based on the complaint lodged by the petitioner on 21.06.2023 in RM-III-CR-P&C-40 and proceed in accordance with law and file the final report as expeditiously as possible. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is also closed. No costs.
15.02.2024 Index : Yes / No Speaking / Non-speaking ham To
1. The Central Bureau of Investigation, Anti-Corruption Branch, III Floor, Shastri Bhavan, Haddows Road, Chennai - 600 006.
2. The Special Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.
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A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA.,J ham and W.M.P.No.32335 of 2023 10/11
15.02.2024 11/11