The Punjab National Bank (PNB) has refused to disclose details of the audit or investigation that led to the detection of the over ₹13,000 crore fraud at the company, citing a clause that bars any disclosure that can impede the process of investigation.
In reply to an RTI query, the state-owned bank also declined to share a copy of inspection reports related to the scam.
Since the matter is under investigation, providing of the desired information is exempted under Section 8 (1) (h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, the PNB said. The section bars disclosure of details which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders.
The scam, considered to be the biggest ever in India’s history, was reported earlier this year after PNB, the country’s second-largest state-owned bank, was allegedly defrauded by diamantaire Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, the promoter of Gitanjali Gems.
Besides the CBI, the Income Tax department and the Enforcement Directorate, the RBI is also probing the case.
