PNB not only bank involved in scam: CM

Kolkata: Demanding a probe into the recently unearthed Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that other banks are also involved in the scam.

Asserting that the PNB scam had taken place during demonetisation, she claimed that the fraud involving billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi, was only a fraction of a mammoth fraud in several Indian banks.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg. This big banking fraud was fuelled at the time of #DeMonetisation. Big money laundering happened during DeMo," the Chief Minister tweeted.

Alleging that key officials were changed in some banks during demonetisation, Banerjee also demanded an investigation into the people who replaced them and those involved in effecting the transfers or removals.

"Key bank officials were changed. Who are these people put in? There are more banks involved. The full truth must come out," she tweeted on Sunday.

It may be mentioned that the BJP-led NDA government had demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8, 2016, claiming that it would curb circulation of black money.

Banerjee had been vocal against the PNB scam as soon as it came to the forefront. While addressing a public meeting at Jhargram on February 15, she had said, "Today people are shocked to see what has happened in the Punjab National Bank in Mumbai. There has been a scam of Rs 11,000 crore. This is the money of common people. Who took away the money? Who ate it up?"

She had demanded a thorough probe into the incident and said, "Offenders will run away after stealing the money but what will happen to the common man? Scams like this must be investigated. The security of people's money must be ensured. We will not let them (the Central government) off the hook until that happens."

Meanwhile, mudslinging between BJP and the Congress has begun in full swing over the scam, with both parties blaming each other for allowing Nirav Modi and his associates involved in the fraud, to flourish during their respective tenures.