Taking serious note of the delay in making disclosures, markets regulator SEBI has warned PNB that it should promptly comply with mandatory norms on fraudulent transactions related to Nirav Modi and the Gitanjali Group of companies.
PNB was defrauded of over $2 billion allegedly by diamond trader Nirav Modi and his associates by fraudulent use of Letters of Undertakings (LoUs) and Foreign Letters of Credit (LoC) in connivance with certain bank officials.
“The...non-compliances are viewed seriously and PNB is hereby warned and advised to be cautious in future to ensure compliance with all applicable provisions of the SEBI LODR (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations,” SEBI said in a communication to the bank. SEBI’s warning letter has been posted by the bank on the stock exchanges as part of a regulatory filing.
SEBI observed that there were delays of one-six days by PNB in making disclosures to the stock exchanges pertaining to the filing of reports/ complaints with Reserve Bank of India and CBI. Accordingly, PNB has not complied with various norms.
SEBI’s communication refers to various disclosures made by PNB to stock exchanges during February and March this year regarding certain fraudulent transactions with respect to the Nirav Modi group, Gitanjali group and others and referring of the same to law enforcement agencies.