RBI initiates scrutiny of three banks

Business

oi-Sneha

By Sneha B K

Published: Tuesday, March 19, 2013, 9:33 [IST]

The Reserve Bank of India on Monday said that it has initiated the process of carrying out comprehensive scrutinies covering both, Head Office and branches of three private sector banks, namely, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank.

Apart from this, the Reserve Bank has also undertaken a thematic study in respect of banks that are active in selling gold coins / wealth management products to examine whether there are systemic issues and to plug deficiencies and legal loop-holes, the RBI said in the press release.

The scrutinies have been initiated after an online media firm called Cobrapost.com, on the basis of its sting operations across some branches of these banks alleged money laundering and violation of several provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Regulations, Foreign Exchange Management Act guidelines, Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), etc.

The media firm had uploaded some videos on the internet relating to these banks as well as ICICI Prudential Life Insurance and HDFC Life Insurance, added further.

The final reports on all the three banks will be completed by March 31, 2013 and thereafter further course of action as necessary will be initiated.

Shares of the HDFC Bank were trading lower by 0.10% in morning trade, Axis Bank stocks were higher by 0.62% and ICICI Bank were trading up by 1.70%.

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