- CBI has filed a chargesheet against former MD and Chairman of ICICI Bank, Chanda Kochhar, her husband, and Videocon Group Chairman in the ICICI-Videocon loan case.
- According to the CBI, ICICI Bank sanctioned a term loan of Rs 1,875 crore to the Videocon Group, where there were irregularities in the approval process and that Dhoot was the “ultimate beneficiary”.
- In December 2022, the CBI arrested Kochhars and Venugopal Dhoot, alleging that irregularities were involved in approving the loan.
- Kochhars were accused of receiving Rs 64 crore as a loan to Deepak Kochhar’s company and a flat in south Mumbai valued at Rs 5.25 crore, as bribes.
- The Bombay High Court granted bail to the Kochhars on January 9, Subsequently, Dhoot was also granted bail.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has made a significant development in the ICICI-Videocon loan case by filing a chargesheet against former MD and Chairman of ICICI Bank, Chanda Kochhar, her husband Deepak Kochhar, and Videocon Group Chairman Venugopal Dhoot. The chargesheet has been submitted to the Mumbai City Civil and Sessions Court registry department for verification, according to various media reports.
According to the CBI, ICICI Bank sanctioned a rupee term loan of Rs 1,875 crore to six companies of the Videocon Group between 2009 and 2011, and Kochhar was on the committee for two of these loans, including one of Rs 300 crore. The CBI alleges that there were irregularities in the approval process and that Dhoot was the “ultimate beneficiary”.
In 2019, an FIR was registered in connection with a loan of over Rs 1,800 crore that ICICI sanctioned to the Videocon group of companies when Chanda Kochhar was the MD of the bank. In December 2022, the CBI arrested Kochhars and Venugopal Dhoot, alleging that irregularities were involved in approving the loan.
Kochhars were accused of receiving Rs 64 crore as a loan to Deepak Kochhar’s NuPower Renewables Ltd and a flat in south Mumbai for Rs 11 lakh in 2016 (valued at Rs 5.25 crore), which the CBI claims were bribes.
However, the Bombay High Court granted bail to the Kochhars on January 9, Subsequently, Dhoot was also granted bail.
In the meantime, while contesting Dhoot’s bail plea, the CBI informed the HC that it had evidence of coercion by Deepak Kochhar that made Dhoot transfer a luxurious apartment in south Mumbai to a Kochhar-owned family trust.
