In demonetisation row Axis Bank has suspended 19 officials, including six from Delhi over alleged involvement in illegal practices, post demonetisation.
The bank suspended four employees on Tuesday from its Kashmere Gate branch while two others from the same branch were suspended four days ago.
The other suspended employees are from different parts of the country including Odisha, West Bangal, Tamil Nadu, among others
“We have taken this step as we found these employees were not following the guidelines of our bank… No deviation from the guidelines will be allowed by any employee,” Rajesh Dahiya, executive director, Axis Bank told Hindustan Times.
On Sunday, the Enforcement Directorate arrested two Axis Bank managers in Delhi and seized 3 kg gold bars in connection with its money laundering probe in a racket of illegally converting old notes in connivance with banking authorities. The bank has now hired a private audit firm for a forensic audit.
The agency’s probe after it registered a criminal complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on November 30, revealed that huge monies were transferred through RTGS transfers to some shell companies, including a case in which the director of one such firm was a “petty labourer”.
“As many as 125 senior level officials including people from the audit department and top management along with the private firm will ensure that such illegal practises do not happen. We have circulated the banks’ guidelines to our employees and anyone found not adhering to the rules should be ready to face action,” he said(HT)