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The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has issued summons to six audit firms in connection with the Rs.122 crore fraud at New India Co-operative Bank. Investigators have discovered discrepancies in the bank's records, particularly regarding cash-in-hand figures.
According to sources, the vault capacity of the bank's Prabhadevi head office is only Rs.10 crore, yet the bank's trial balance recorded Rs.133.41 crore as cash-in-hand on February 11, 2025. However, the actual cash found was only Rs.11.13 crore—Rs.10.53 crore stored in the Goregaon cash cell vault and ?60 lakh in the head office strong room.
The EOW has summoned six audit firms that conducted internal and concurrent audits for the bank between 2019 and 2024. These firms include M/s. U. G. Devi and Company, M/s. Gandhi and Associates (LLP), M/s. Shinde Nayak and Associates, M/s. Sanjay Rane and Associates, and M/s. S. I. Mogul and Company.
An EOW officer confirmed that auditors from these firms will be questioned regarding their role in verifying the bank's financial statements. The EOW has already arrested Hitesh Mehta (the bank’s General Manager and prime accused), Dharmesh Paun (a builder), and Abhimanyu Bhoan (the former CEO of the bank). Former CEO Bhoan, who signed all balance sheets and audit reports, is currently being interrogated.
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