'Face reading' to spot the next big bank defaulter?

NEW DELHI: With banks at their wits ends over high profile customers defrauding them of thousands of crores, some have turned to face-reading to spot the next Vijay Mallya or Nirav Modi.

Private banks in Gujarat have approached the Forensic Science University to prepare a facial micro-expressions manual, to train its employees in recognising doubtful high net-worth customers like fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya demanding loans.

Pablo Picasso was one of the most eminent proponents of cubism, a 20th-century modern art movement wherein objects are analysed, broken up and reassembled in an abstract form, instead of depicting them from a single viewpoint. Taking the proverbial leaf out of cubism's book, the banks are looking to deconstruct.

Experts say, analysing these expressions can help detect abnormal behaviour and that it is a giveaway of hostile intent.

The worsening nature of India's non-performing assets (NPA) crisis has got the authorities racking their brains on various possible solutions including the use of blockchain technology for keeping records. In a significant project already underway, the enforcement directorate (ED) is working to strengthen its cybersecurity and digital forensics operations.

With more and more banking frauds linked to corporates coming to light -the latest being Winsome Diamonds scam involving Canara Bank - it is not surprising that banks are willing to take roads less travelled in a bid to find a solution to this menace.

The nearly Rs 14,000 crore PNB scam involving diamantaire Nirav Modi that was exposed earlier this year was a watershed moment in India's banking history and laid bare the glaring loopholes in the lending industry.