In the latest in the series of revelations in the case of Surat-based financier Kishor Bhajiawala, the FIR registered with the CBI by the Surat Income Tax Department against him says that his family operated a total of 56 accounts in different banks.
The revelation follows a string of surprises that the financier’s financial dealings post demonetisation have thrown up. It has been alleged that Bhaijiyawala had used dummy bank accounts to launder money and had also used 700 persons for depositing and withdrawing money after demonetisation.
“There are a total 56 bank accounts in the name of Bhajiawala, his family members and Bhajiawala Hindu undivided family. These include 16 accounts in private banks, 13 in nationalised banks and 27 in Surat People's Cooperative Bank Limited,” Times of India quoted the FIR as stating.
The CBI quizzed Bhajiawala’s two sons – Jignesh and Vilas – and Pankaj Bhatt, senior manager of Surat People's Cooperative Bank (SPCB), Udhna Udyognagar branch, on Monday in connection with an FIR registered against them for alleged illegal exchange of demonetised currency.
Earlier, the financier was interrogated by the CBI in Surat on Saturday and by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday. During the interrogation, it was found that apart from a large number of bank account, his family also operated bank lockers registered in dummy names.
“Locker number 1550 with SPCB, Udhna Udyognagar branch, from which I-T had seized Rs 97.84 lakh in Rs 2,000 new currency notes, was registered in the name of Hitesh Rughani and Damyanti Rughani of Thane but was allegedly operated by Kishore Bhajiyawala's son, Jignesh,” states the FIR.
The I-T department had seized from him Rs 1,45,50,800 (all in new currency notes), gold worth Rs 1,48,88,133, gold jewellery worth Rs 4,92,96,314, diamond jewellery worth Rs 1,39,34,580, and silver ingots worth Rs 77,81,800. Sensing the involvement of banks and bigwigs, the case was later handed over to the CBI.
Bhajiawala, whose net worth is around Rs 2,000 crore, owns several commercial properties, flats, plots and rowhouses in the city.
Bhajiawala came to Surat about 31 years ago with his family and ran a tea and bhajiya stall for many years in Udhna. His business soon picked pace and he later started lending money to people on interest before moving on to the gold business in 2007.
