Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SHP)
New Delhi, Dec 4: Minister of State for Finance, Anurag Singh Thakur on Thursday stated that there are over 51 absconders who defrauded the government of a whopping Rs 17,900 crore. Thakur presented the facts in a written reply to a question on 'fugitive economic offenders' in the Rajya Sabha.
"The Central Bureau of Investigation has reported that as on date, 51 absconders and proclaimed offenders in 66 cases are known to have left for other countries.
"Further, the CBI has reported that the total amount defrauded by the accused persons in these cases comes to Rs 17,947.11 crore (approximately)," Thakur said.
The minister was also asked about how much concessions were given or loans written off in these instances.
"As reported by the department of financial services, the expected losses on stressed loans, not provided earlier under flexibility given to restructuring loans, were reclassified as NPAs and provided for.
"Public sector banks initiated cleaning up by recognising NPAs and provided for expected losses," he added.
Further, he elucidated that the ED and the CBI filed applications towards the cases in the respective courts and the proceedings were either under investigation or trial.
Thakur said the CBI was 'processing' 51 extradition requests that were pending at various stages in respect to proclaimed offenders and absconders.
Referring to other central agencies, Thakur asserted that the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) reportedly had about six fugitive economic offenders who had left the country illegally.
"The Enforcement Directorate has filed an application against 10 individuals in the competent court under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018," the minister said.
Adding to the extradition requests for the offender, Thakur clarified that the CBIC had sent two requests to the Ministry of External Affairs in July.
"In respect of extradition requests sent by ED for eight individuals, red-corner notices have also been published by Interpol," Thakur said.