LIC housing scam: CBI finds Rs 400 crore in bank accounts

The Central Bureau of Investigation has unearthed unaccounted income worth Rs 400 crore from the bank accounts of Rajesh Sharma, chairman and managing director of Money Matters, Mumbai, and some of his associates. They are allegedly involved in the cash-for-loans scam, CBI sources said.

A CBI officer, who did not wish to be named, said the agency has found 25 bank accounts in the names of Sharma, his company, his close aides and family members. The accounts have been frozen and the agency plans to enlist the income tax department to probe the matter.

Money Matters is accused of illegally organising loans for companies through senior officers of three public sector banks and LIC.

However, Sharma’s lawyer, Satish Maneshinde said: “The CBI did not say any such thing in court.” He was referring to the hearing earlier in the day in which all eight suspects in the case, including Sharma, were granted bail. Sharma and two executives of his firm were re-arrested on Saturday and will be in CBI custody till Thursday.

The CBI official said Sharma would be questioned on the bank accounts, and also on whether additional assets had been stashed away abroad.

Source : HT