CBI court sentences ex-IOB manager, private individual to 3 years in loan fraud case

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Ahmedabad, July 18 (IANS) A special CBI court in Ahmedabad has sentenced a former Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) branch manager and a private individual to three years’ rigorous imprisonment after finding them guilty in a bank fraud case involving fraudulent greenhouse project loans that caused a loss of Rs 2.60 crore to the bank, an official statement said on Saturday.

The CBI said: “The court on Friday convicted Neeraj Kumar Jain, the then branch manager of Indian Overseas Bank, Himmatnagar, Gujarat, and private individual Ketankumar Mohanlal Patel. The court sentenced both to three years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed fines of Rs 2.60 lakh on Jain and Rs 1.10 crore on Patel, taking the total fine to Rs 1,12,60,000.”

According to the CBI, the case was registered on May 8, 2014, against Jain and 15 private individuals.

The agency alleged that while serving as branch manager between October 2012 and September 2013, Jain entered into a criminal conspiracy with Nileshkumar Dayabhai Patel, Ketankumar Mohanlal Patel and 13 other borrowers to cheat Indian Overseas Bank by using forged documents to obtain loans for greenhouse projects.

The CBI alleged that the conspiracy resulted in a wrongful loss of Rs 2.60 crore to the bank and corresponding wrongful gains for the accused. It further alleged that Jain abused his official position by sanctioning and disbursing the loans despite the fraudulent documentation.

During the investigation, the agency found that Jain had sanctioned and disbursed 14 agricultural term loans for greenhouse projects.

It alleged that Nileshkumar Dayabhai Patel and Ketankumar Mohanlal Patel secured two and 12 loans respectively by applying in the names of relatives and acquaintances. Each loan was sanctioned for Rs 19 lakh.

After completing its investigation, the CBI filed a charge sheet on December 24, 2014, against Jain and three private individuals: Nilesh Dayabhai Patel, proprietor of M/s Riya Irrigation, M/s N.D. Agriculture and M/s My Global Village, Sabarkantha; Ketankumar Mohanlal Patel; and Avinash Yashwantkumar Patel, proprietor of M/s Sagar Drip Irrigation, Kishan Agromill, Sarkari Jin Road, Himmatnagar.

Following the trial, the court convicted Jain and Ketankumar Mohanlal Patel.

The charges against Avinash Yashwantkumar Patel could not be substantiated, and he was acquitted of all charges.

The trial against Nilesh Dayabhai Patel has been separated as he is absconding.

–IANS

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CBI raids Punjab Vigilance Bureau office, arrests ‘middleman’ in Rs 25-lakh bribery case

Chandigarh, May 12 (IANS) A CBI team has raided the Punjab Vigilance Bureau office in Mohali, near here, and detained its Director S.S. Chauhan’s reader over bribery charges of Rs 25 lakh.

The raid, which began late Monday evening, is still on, and the Vigilance office has been sealed.

Sources said the CBI first raided a five-star hotel in Chandigarh where Inspector O.P. Rana, reader to the vigilance chief, along with “middleman” Raghav Goel, were striking a deal with a complainant. The Rs 13 lakh in bribes has been seized. Goel, a resident of Muktsar’s Malout, was arrested, while Rana managed to escape, they said.

Akali leader and former Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia claimed on X that the central agency “recovered Rs 13 lakh from a vigilance official in a Rs 20 lakh bribery scandal”.

In another post, he wrote, “My source reveals that Vigilance DGP office has been sealed by the central agency after the raid. Vigilance chief’s is reportedly missing and currently his phone is switched off. It is being believed that the Vigilance chief may be on the run after the crackdown?”

Quoting sources, he said they revealed that a deal was struck at a five-star hotel through a middleman identified as Goel.

More explosive details expected soon. “Reader O.P. Rana of Vigilance chief, has reportedly been picked up by Central agency as probe intensifies into alleged bribery and corruption network,” he said, adding, “The Punjab Vigilance office has allegedly turned into a harassment den under @AAPPunjab government and Bhagwant Mann.”

Majithia further said the current raid is a follow-up of suspended Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh Bhullar, a 2009-batch IPS officer, who was arrested by the CBI in October 2025 in the bribery scandal.

“Remember IPS Bhullar (Rs) 7.5 crore recovery, here comes a new feather in the cap of @BhagwantMann,” he wrote in another post on X. “Corruption in Punjab is now being exposed layer by layer from top to bottom. Bhagwant Mann has no moral right to continue as Chief Minister and Home Minister,” he said.

“Punjab deserves transparent governance, not fear, intimidation and corruption driven administration,” Majithia added.

–IANS

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Nehru Ji’s ideals will always guide us: Rahul Gandhi on death anniversary of first Indian PM

New Delhi, May 27 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday paid tribute to India’s first Prime Minister and his great-grandfather, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, on his death anniversary, saying that the leader’s “legacy and ideals will always guide us”.

Taking to social media platform X, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “Respectful tribute to the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru ji on his death anniversary. With the dream of a strong and inclusive India, Nehruji laid a strong foundation for independent India with his visionary leadership. His contribution in the establishment of social justice, modernity, education, constitution and democracy is invaluable. The legacy of Jawahar of India and his ideals will always guide us.”

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also remembered her great-grandfather’s contributions to building a progressive and modern India.

In her post, she quoted Nehru himself: “What we think today and what we do create the India of tomorrow.”

She added, “Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru dreamed of an India that would progress with the help of science and technology and compete with the modern world. For this, he laid the foundation of dozens of educational, scientific, industrial, technical, social and economic institutions, which are the backbone of India today and are strengthening India as the pillar of our progress. The country will always remember his great contribution. Heartfelt tribute and salute to the creator of modern India.”

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also paid homage, describing Nehru as the architect of democratic and scientific India.

“‘Citizenship consists in serving the country’ – Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Humble tributes on the death anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru ji, the creator of modern India, the fearless guardian of democracy, the one who took India from zero to the peak… the one who constantly gave the message of ‘unity in diversity’ to the country, our source of inspiration. 21st century India cannot be imagined without the contribution of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru,” Kharge wrote on X.

Pandit Nehru served as the interim head of the government in September 1946. After India’s Independence on August 15, 1947, he was sworn in as the country’s Prime Minister. On that historic day, he delivered his iconic ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech and unfurled the Indian flag at the Red Fort in Delhi.

Nehru, who became Congress President in 1929, made a defining call for complete independence from British rule. He led the country during its formative years post-Independence, shaping India’s democratic institutions and its identity on the global stage.

His final years were marked by declining health. In 1962, a viral infection weakened him, and on May 27, 1964, he died of a suspected heart attack.

–IANS

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Weather department predicts rain across TN till September 26

Chennai, Sep 21 (IANS) The Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai has forecast that widespread rainfall will continue across Tamil Nadu, as well as in Puducherry and Karaikal, until September 26.

The latest update comes after several districts in the state recorded significant showers in the past 24 hours. According to the weather office, the highest rainfall was recorded in Arakkonam in Ranipet district, which received 7 cm. Ambattur in Tiruvallur district, along with Ayyappakkam and Korattur in Chennai, each recorded 6 cm of rainfall.

Officials noted that most northern districts, along with some parts of the south, experienced moderate to heavy rain.

Meteorologists attributed the prevailing wet conditions to a low-level atmospheric circulation over the southern parts of the State. This system, they said, will continue to influence weather patterns for the next five days, bringing intermittent rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds across both northern and southern districts.

Puducherry and Karaikal regions are also expected to experience similar conditions during this period.

In Chennai, the forecast indicates light to moderate showers, accompanied by thunder and lightning in certain areas. Commuters have been advised to plan their travel accordingly, as sudden spells of rain may disrupt road traffic in low-lying areas.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon has been performing steadily over Tamil Nadu since its onset on June 1. From then until Saturday, the state has received about 30 cm of rainfall — 5 per cent higher than the long-period average.

Weather scientists have described this as a “normal” monsoon season with a slightly positive trend.

Looking ahead, meteorologists are closely monitoring the Bay of Bengal, where a new low-pressure system is likely to form near the Myanmar-Bangladesh coast on September 25. If it intensifies, it could further enhance rainfall activity over Tamil Nadu and adjoining regions in the days to come.

With schools, offices, and agricultural activities all being affected by the continuing wet spell, officials have urged residents to remain alert to weather bulletins. Fishermen have also been advised to exercise caution while venturing into the sea during this period.

–IANS

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