AMN /
CBI today conducted searches at a Bank of Baroda branch in Delhi in connection with alleged transfer of black money to Hong Kong.
Over Rs. 6,000 crore of black money was allegedly sent out of the country from the bank in July last year. An amount of Rs. 6172 crore was deposited by fictitious companies in the bank to be transferred to Hong Kong.
The matter came to fore following an internal inquiry audit report of the bank on 9th of last month. CBI sources said accounts of about 60 companies opened at the Ashok Vihar branch of the bank are under scanner.
The Enforcement Directorate has also registered a case and carried out searches in this connection.
On Friday, Congress had alleged that such a scam could not have been carried out without the complicity of Finance Ministry.
Party demanded an independent probe into the matter. In a sarcastic manner, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said black money is going out of country instead of coming in.
He said the episode is shocking and Centre should take strong action.
Meanwhile, Congress on Saturday said it is shocking that Finance Ministry did not take any investigation measure even after Bank of Baroda ‘s internal audit unravelled the scam last September.
Briefing reporters in New Delhi Saturday afternoon, senior party leader Kapil Sibal asked why Finance Ministry and PMO took no action for over a month.
He asked whether searches conducted by CBI and ED are a mere cover up exercise.
He sought to know the names of the fictititous companies which siphoned off Rs. 6172 crore to Hong Kong fraudulently.
Mr Sibal asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to break their silence on the matter.