CBI files chargesheet in ICICI-Videocon loan case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) last week filed a chargesheet against former ICICI Bank MD and chairman Chanda Kochhar, her husband Deepak Kochhar and Videocon Group Chairman Venugopal Dhoot in connection with the ICICI-Videocon loan case. The chargesheet has been submitted to the Mumbai City Civil and Sessions court registry department for verification. The court is yet to take cognisance of it.

The CBI claims that between 2009 and 2011, ICICI Bank sanctioned a rupee term loan of Rs 1,875 crore to six companies of the Videocon Group. The CBI claimed that out of these six loans, Kochhar was on the committee in two, including one of Rs 300 crore, and alleged that there were irregularities with Dhoot as the “ultimate beneficiary”.

An FIR was lodged in the case by the CBI in 2019 and the three were arrested in December 2022. The Bombay High Court granted bail to the Kochhars on January 9 observing that the arrest was not done in compliance with the law. Subsequently, Dhoot too was granted bail.

The CBI has filed a case under sections 420 (cheating) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 409 (criminal misconduct by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code, including relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.