Flagging the “casual manner” of investigation conducted by the CBI, a Delhi court has acquitted nine people after nine years in a corruption case where it was alleged that the Canara Bank branch on Parliament Street was defrauded out of Rs 4.8 crore. The CBI alleged in its chargesheet that four criminal conspiracies to defraud the bank were hatched between 2003 and 2007 by the accused people, including four employees of the bank.
Funds via 47 cheques were allegedly diverted to the sister companies of Harpreet Fashion (main accused in the case), which was granted a loan by the bank. “..
.the prosecution has also not examined or analyzed the bank accounts, statement of accounts, balance sheet and the relevant income tax return of the sister (companies) to establish whether any activity was carried out pursuant to the payment made by A-1/Harpreet Fashion,” Special Judge Hasan Anzar of Rouse Avenue Courts said in an order dated June 3. Advertisement The court also flagged that none of the employees of the sister companies were questioned by the agency and that none of the prosecution witnesses even “whispered” about the diversion of funds to the companies from Harpreet Fashion.
The court also held that the CBI did not investigate the company’s final balance sheet, which would have “shown the clear picture”. It was also unhappy with the investigating officer’s “feeble explanation” that the bank did not provide the agency with proper documents. The court furt.