More trouble for Kamal Nath's nephew, CBI raids Ratul Puri's premises

Spelling more trouble for former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath's nephew Ratul Puri, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday carried out raids at multiple locations in Delhi and Noida in connection with the alleged fraud with the Punjab National Bank and other consortium of banks worth Rs 787 crore.

A CBI official said, "Multiple teams of the agency are conducting searches in Delhi and Noida at the premises of the accused, including Moser Baer Solar Ltd (MBSL) Directors Dipak Puri, Ratul Puri and others in a case releated to alleged loss of Rs 787.25 crore to PNB and other consortium of banks."

The official said that the raids came in the wake of a case being registered on a complaint by PNB against MBSL and others, including its Directors and other unknown persons and bank officials.

In August 2019, the CBI had registered a case against Moser Baer India Limited (MBIL) and conducted raids at six places to nab its current and former officials for cheating the Central Bank of India to the tune of Rs 354.51 crore.

According to the CBI, Deepak Puri, Managing Director of MBIL, his wife Nita Puri, whole-time director of MBIL, son Ratul Puri, former Executive Director of MBIL, Sanjay Jain, Director, Vineet Sharma, Director, and other unidentified public servants and private persons were booked on charges of criminal conspiracy for cheating, forgery and criminal misconduct.

Nita Puri is the sister of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath and Ratul Puri is his nephew. Ratul Puri was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with money laundering involving the Rs 354 crore fraud with the Central Bank of India.

The ED had rergistered the case on the basis of the CBI FIR. Ratul Puri is also under scanner for allegedly receiving kickbacks in the AgustaWestland deal through his companies.

The ED has alleged that accounts associated with firms owned and operated by Ratul Puri were used to receive kickbacks and launder money in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP helicopter deal.

Ratul Puri was granted bail on December 2, 2019.