Jobaaj Stories
Bollywood actress Preity Zinta received a ₹1.55 crore remission on a loan she had taken from New India Co-operative Bank, which is currently under investigation for a ₹122 crore scam, Mumbai Police revealed on Thursday.
Loan Settlement and NPA Classification
Zinta was sanctioned an ₹18 crore loan on January 7, 2011. She had mortgaged her properties, including a flat in Mumbai and another in Shimla, valued at ₹27.41 crore. However, by March 31, 2013, her loan was classified as a non-performing asset (NPA) as she was unable to make repayments on time.
To settle the loan, the bank offered her a remission of ₹1.55 crore, and she cleared the remaining balance on April 5, 2014.
Investigation and Bank Scam
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police is probing a major financial scam in New India Co-operative Bank. Eight individuals, including the former general manager Hitesh Mehta, have been arrested so far. The investigation has uncovered multiple irregularities in loans classified as NPAs since 2010.
Authorities will conduct a brain mapping test on Hitesh Mehta at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Kalina to trace the money trail and identify other accused individuals. The police had earlier conducted a polygraph test on him.
Meanwhile, former bank chairman Hiren Bhanu and his wife Gauri Bhanu remain wanted in the case. The probe continues as officials dig deeper into the financial mismanagement at the bank.
