
Taking relentless action on wilful defaulters: FM Nirmala Sitharaman
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman Wednesday said «relentless action» is going on against wilful bank defaulters and that loan write-offs do not mean waivers as borrowers remain liable to repay their dues.
«Banks continue to pursue recovery actions in written-off accounts using various mechanisms,» she said, responding to the discussion on Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024 in the Rajya Sabha.
The upper house, subsequently, gave its nod to the bill that seeks to provide options to the depositors for either successive or simultaneous nominations besides allowing public sector banks (PSBs) to transfer unclaimed shares, interest, and bond redemption amounts to investor protection fund besides other changes. The bill has already secured Lok Sabha's nod.
The minister said during the last five years, the Directorate of Enforcement has taken up around 912 cases related to bank fraud, including those pertaining to wilful default.
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«In these cases, approximately ₹44,204 crore of proceeds of crime have been attached, seized or frozen,» she said, adding that as of December 31, 2024, nine individuals have been declared as Fugitive Economic Offenders, and assets worth ₹749.83 crore have been confiscated.
She said performance of PSBs has significantly improved and they have recorded highest ever aggregate net profit of ₹1.41 lakh crore in FY24 and ₹1.30 lakh crore up to December 2024 as a result of the reforms implemented by the government.
On the bill, she said it will impact five different acts, making it