Wed Feb 12 03:33:39 UTC 2025: ## Delhi Court Condemns CBI’s Secrecy in ₹2,435 Crore Bank Fraud Case
**New Delhi, February 12, 2025** – A Delhi court has sharply criticized the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for its handling of a ₹2,435 crore bank fraud case, accusing the agency of attempting to conceal crucial information. Special Judge Sanjeev Agarwal of the Rouse Avenue court stated that the CBI’s actions suggest a deliberate attempt to “put a veil of secrecy” over the facts, preventing the truth from being revealed.
The court’s rebuke follows the CBI’s failure to produce key case files despite a February 3rd order demanding their submission. The missing files pertain to a fraud that caused a ₹2,435 crore loss to the State Bank of India’s Industrial Finance Branch in Mumbai.
Judge Agarwal’s order explicitly stated that the concealment of information enhances suspicion and hinders the court’s ability to determine whether further investigation is necessary. The judge noted that a preliminary review of the charge sheets indicates a flawed investigation, possibly conducted improperly and casually by a Sub-Inspector, potentially violating Section 17 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The court deemed the CBI’s non-compliance a “clearcut defiance and recalcitrance,” contravening the principles of fair investigation and trial guaranteed by Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
The CBI and bank officials have been ordered to submit the missing details by the next hearing on February 21, 2025. The court’s strong condemnation underscores serious concerns about transparency and the thoroughness of the CBI’s investigation in this significant financial crime case.
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